職業 — meaning in English: Profession

shokugyō · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for occupation

ヒーロー

hīrō

協議会

kyōgikai

職業

shokugyō

習慣

shūkan

サイド

saido

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formal common

Usage

Native speakers often use the word 職業 (shokugyō) when discussing someone's job during formal introductions or in professional settings. For instance, at a networking event, someone might ask, 'あなたの職業は何ですか？' (What is your profession?). It's also common in academic discussions about career paths or job markets.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym for 職業 (shokugyō) is 仕事 (shigoto), which generally means 'work' or 'job'. While 職業 emphasizes the concept of profession or a career path, 仕事 can refer to any form of work, including part-time or temporary jobs. Choosing 職業 over 仕事 conveys a sense of formality and specificity about one's career.

Culture

The term 職業 (shokugyō) is derived from the characters 職 (shoku), meaning 'duty' or 'work', and 業 (gyō), meaning 'business' or 'profession'. In Japan, discussing one's profession is often seen as a reflection of personal identity and social status, illustrating the cultural value placed on work and contribution to society. Interestingly, in traditional Japanese society, one's profession was often linked to family lineage and was not easily changed.

FAQ

Q.What does 職業 (shokugyō) mean?

職業 (shokugyō) means 'profession' in English, referring to a person's career or occupation. It's commonly used in formal contexts to discuss one’s job.

Q.How do you use 職業 (shokugyō) in a sentence?

You can use it in a sentence like '私の職業は教師です' (Watashi no shokugyō wa kyōshi desu), meaning 'My profession is a teacher.' This structure is useful for introducing yourself.

Q.Is there a mistake to avoid when using 職業 (shokugyō)?

A common mistake is to confuse 職業 (shokugyō) with 仕事 (shigoto). Remember that 職業 implies a specific profession, while 仕事 can refer to any work, so choose based on the context.

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