Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "働く", "勤める", "仕事する", "息が合う"
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
勤める
つとめる (tsutomeru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
仕事する
しごと する (shigoto suru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
息が合う
いきがあう (ikigaau)
B2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "work" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "働く", "勤める", "仕事する", "息が合う" 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.
- 勤める (つとめる (tsutomeru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to work for; to be employed at; to serve" and is used when This verb specifically means 'to be employed at' or 'to work for' a company, organization, or in a specific role. It emphasizes the act of serving or being engaged in a profession, often used with the particle に or で. It differs from 働く.
- 仕事する (しごと する (shigoto suru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to work; to do work" and is used when A very common verb used for performing a job or task, often implying employment. It combines the noun '仕事'.
- 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..
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 "勤める"
彼は銀行に勤めています。
He works for a bank.
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.
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.
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.".