Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Work" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "work", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
仕事する
しごと する (shigoto suru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
作業
さぎょう (sagyō)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "work" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 仕事する and 作業.
In Japanese, 仕事する (しごと する (shigoto suru)) is typically associated with "to work; to do work" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A very common verb used for performing a job or task, often implying employment. It combines the noun '仕事'.
On the other hand, 作業 (さぎょう (sagyō)) maps to "work; operation; task; manufacturing; manual labor" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to physical or mental work, operations, manufacturing tasks, or routine processing. Often used as 組み立て作業 or データ入力作業. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Task! "Drawing the architectural blueprint to live together with you, Haruka-san, is a task that makes my hands shake from happiness!" ...っ! T-To call new home planning a task! B-Baka! That's a lifetime joint project! But... make sure the kitchen and garden tasks are shared by the two of us forever! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『さぎょう(作業)よ!『ハルカさんと一緒に暮らすための新居の設計図を描く作業、幸せすぎて鉛筆を持つ手が震えます!』って…っ!新居設計の作業!バカ!…作業だなんて事務的に言わないの!人生最大の共同プロジェクトでしょ!…お庭のガーデニング作業も、一生二人で仲良くおしゃべりしながら共同作業しなさいよね!』. A literal translation of "work" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "仕事する"
私は毎日会社で仕事をします。
I work at the company every day.
Bilingual Context for "作業"
工場での組み立て_______を完全自動化ロボットに移行することにより、ヒューマンエラーによる不良品の発生を劇的に防止しました。
By shifting the assembly work in the factory to completely automated robots, the occurrence of defective goods due to human errors was dramatically prevented.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "私は毎日会社で仕事をします。" (Meaning: "I work at the company every day.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "仕事する" fits here because it means "to work; to do work" in the context of: "I work at the company every day.". "作業" represents "work; operation; task; manufacturing; manual labor".