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Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "働く", "しごと", "作品", "息が合う", "齷齪"

All represent the core concept "work", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

働く

はたらく (hataraku)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B

しごと

しごと (shigoto)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C

作品

さくひん (sakuhin)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D

息が合う

いきがあう (ikigaau)
B2 / CEFR
Japanese Option E

齷齪

あくせく
C2PLUS / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "work" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "働く", "しごと", "作品", "息が合う", "齷齪" based on context.
  • 働く (はたらく (hataraku) - Level: N5): Maps to "to work" and is used when Describes the act of working or being employed. Polite form is 働きます.
  • しごと (しごと (shigoto) - Level: N5): Maps to "work, job" and is used when Refers to employment or tasks. To work is 働きます.
  • 作品 (さくひん (sakuhin) - Level: N3): Maps to "work (of art, literature, etc.), creation" and is used when Refers to something created by an artist, writer, musician, craftsman, etc., such as a painting, novel, film, or piece of music. It carries a sense of artistic or creative merit..
  • 息が合う (いきがあう (ikigaau) - Level: B2): Maps to "to work well together" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..
  • 齷齪 (あくせく - Level: C2PLUS): Maps to "to work restlessly; to fuss over details" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus..
Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!
Context for "働く"
私の父は銀行で働いています。
My father works at a bank.
Context for "しごと"
彼は新しい仕事を探しています。
He is looking for a new job.
Context for "作品"
この美術館には有名な画家の作品がたくさんあります。
This museum has many works by famous painters.
Context for "息が合う"
毎日、日本語を練習するために息が合う。
Every day, I work well together to practice Japanese.
Context for "齷齪"
毎日、日本語を練習するために齷齪。
Every day, I work restlessly; to fuss over details to practice Japanese.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "私の父は銀行で働いています。" (Meaning: "My father works at a bank.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "働く" is correct here because it represents "to work" in the context: "My father works at a bank.".

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