Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Employment" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "employment", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
就業
しゅうぎょう (shūgyō)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
雇傭
こよう (koyō)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "employment" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 就業 and 雇傭.
In Japanese, 就業 (しゅうぎょう (shūgyō)) is typically associated with "employment; starting work; being at work" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Refers to the act of commencing work, or the state of being employed. Often seen in phrases like '就業時間'.
On the other hand, 雇傭 (こよう (koyō)) maps to "employment, hire" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents The act of employing someone or being employed. It's a formal term, often used in official, legal, or economic contexts regarding labor and job creation. Commonly written as '雇用'. A literal translation of "employment" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "就業"
午前9時に就業する。
Start work at 9 AM.
Bilingual Context for "雇傭"
企業は新たな雇傭機会を創出した。
The company created new employment opportunities.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "午前9時に ＿＿＿ する。" (Meaning: "Start work at 9 AM.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "就業" fits here because it means "employment; starting work; being at work" in the context of: "Start work at 9 AM.". "雇傭" represents "employment, hire".