Japanese Job Vocabulary: How to Talk About Occupations and Work

One of the very first questions you will hear in any Japanese introduction is: 何のお仕事をされていますか？ (なんのおしごとをされていますか？ — “What kind of work do you do?”). Whether you are introducing yourself to a new colleague, chatting at a language exchange, or writing a profile on a Japanese learning app, knowing how to talk about jobs and occupations is an absolute beginner essential. This guide walks you through the vocabulary, grammar patterns, and natural phrases you need to discuss work in Japanese — from your first self-introduction to navigating the workplace hierarchy.

1. Talking About Your Job

There are several natural ways to say what you do in Japanese, and the one you choose signals both the information you want to share and the level of formality you are aiming for.

The three core patterns

〜をしています is the most flexible. It works with job titles, activity nouns, and general work descriptions.

▶ エンジニアをしています。
えんじにあをしています。
I am an engineer.

〜に勤めています (〜につとめています) focuses on the organization — which company or institution you belong to.

▶ 病院に勤めています。
びょういんにつとめています。
I work at a hospital.

〜で働いています (〜ではたらいています) focuses on the location or field where the work takes place.

▶ IT業界で働いています。
ITぎょうかいではたらいています。
I work in the IT industry.

You can also combine patterns to give more detail:

▶ ABC会社に勤めていて、マーケティングをしています。
ABCかいしゃにつとめていて、まーけてぃんぐをしています。
I work at ABC Company and do marketing.

Yuka

レイさん、お仕事は何をされていますか？ (What do you do for work, Rei?)

Rei

IT会社でエンジニアをしています。ユカさんは？ (I work as an engineer at an IT company. How about you, Yuka?)

Yuka

私は学校に勤めています。英語の先生をしています。(I work at a school. I am an English teacher.)

2. Common Occupations: An Expanded Reference Table

Below is a broad reference covering occupations across medicine, education, IT, food service, government, arts, and more. Bookmark this table for whenever you need to describe someone’s job or understand what a new acquaintance does.

3. The Workplace Hierarchy: Employment Types

Japan has a notably detailed vocabulary for different employment statuses. Knowing these terms helps you understand job listings, HR conversations, and casual talk about work arrangements.

To describe your employment type, combine it with をしています or として働いています (as a …):

▶ 今はアルバイトをしています。
いまはあるばいとをしています。
I am currently working part-time.

▶ 正社員として働いています。
せいしゃいんとしてはたらいています。
I work as a full-time employee.

Rei

ユカさん、今はパートですか？正社員ですか？ (Are you part-time or full-time right now, Yuka?)

Yuka

今年から正社員になりました！去年まではアルバイトをしていました。(I became a full-time employee this year! Until last year I was working part-time.)

4. Work-Related Vocabulary

Beyond job titles and employment type, everyday conversations about work involve a rich set of vocabulary for the workplace, the people in it, and the conditions of the job.

Here are a few natural sentences using these words:

▶ 職場の同僚と仲がいいです。
しょくばのどうりょうとなかがいいです。
I get along well with my workplace colleagues.

▶ 今週は残業が多くて、疲れました。
こんしゅうはざんぎょうがおおくて、つかれました。
I had a lot of overtime this week and got tired.

▶ 来月、有給を取って旅行するつもりです。
らいげつ、ゆうきゅうをとってりょこうするつもりです。
I plan to take paid leave next month and go on a trip.

5. Self-Introductions at Work

Japanese workplaces have a clear culture around first introductions — 自己紹介（じこしょうかい）. Knowing the formal and casual versions will serve you whether you are joining a new company, attending a business meeting, or simply meeting a new client.

Formal self-introduction (used at the workplace, with clients, in meetings)

The formal pattern uses humble verb forms (〜ております, 〜と申します) from keigo (polite speech):

▶ ABC株式会社の営業部に勤めております。田中と申します。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
ABCかぶしきがいしゃのえいぎょうぶにつとめております。たなかともうします。どうぞよろしくおねがいいたします。
I work in the Sales Department of ABC Co., Ltd. My name is Tanaka. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Casual self-introduction (language exchange, social events, new colleagues)

In casual settings, drop the humble forms and use plain or polite speech:

▶ IT会社でエンジニアをしています。田中です。よろしくお願いします。
ITかいしゃでえんじにあをしています。たなかです。よろしくおねがいします。
I work as an engineer at an IT company. I’m Tanaka. Nice to meet you.

What to include in a Japanese work self-introduction:

• Your name (名前・なまえ)
• where you work or what department you belong to (所属・しょぞく)
• What you do / your role (仕事・しごと or 役職・やくしょく)
• A closing phrase: どうぞよろしくお願いします (formal) or よろしくお願いします (standard)

Yuka

初めまして！鈴木ユカと申します。マーケティング部に勤めております。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。(Nice to meet you! My name is Suzuki Yuka. I work in the Marketing Department. I look forward to working with you.)

Rei

こちらこそ、よろしくお願いいたします！私は開発部のレイです。何かあればいつでも声をかけてください。(Likewise, I look forward to it! I’m Rei from the Development Department. Feel free to reach out any time.)

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even intermediate learners trip up on a few classic occupation vocabulary errors. Here are the most common ones — and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: Using 医者 when talking to or about the doctor themselves

医者（いしゃ） is the standard, neutral word for “doctor.” However, when addressing or referring to the doctor with respect — especially in their presence or in their professional context — Japanese speakers use お医者さん（おいしゃさん）. Adding the honorific お〜さん softens the word and shows respect.

❌ 医者に聞いてください。 (Acceptable in writing or clinical context, but can sound cold.)
✅ お医者さんに聞いてください。 — Please ask the doctor. (Warm, everyday speech.)

Note: When referring to yourself as a doctor, you would use 医者 without the honorific: 私は医者です. Applying お〜さん to yourself sounds unnatural.

Mistake 2: Forgetting を in 〜をしています

Learners often drop the particle を and say エンジニアしています instead of エンジニアをしています. In casual speech this may be understood, but it sounds incomplete. Always include を when using this pattern.

❌ エンジニアしています。
✅ エンジニアをしています。 — I work as an engineer.

Mistake 3: Mixing up 働く, 勤める, and 仕事をする

All three relate to “working,” but they are not interchangeable.

❌ 病院で勤めています。(Unnatural — 勤める pairs with に, not で.)
✅ 病院に勤めています。 — I am employed at a hospital.
✅ 病院で働いています。 — I work at a hospital.

Quick Quiz

Test yourself! Choose the correct word or fill in the blank for each question. Answers are below.

Q1. How do you say “I work at a hospital” using 勤める?
→ Answer: 病院に勤めています。

Q2. What is the Japanese word for a full-time permanent employee?
→ Answer: 正社員（せいしゃいん）

Q3. Which is more polite when speaking to a doctor in person: 医者 or お医者さん?
→ Answer: お医者さん

Q4. Fill in the blank: エンジニア___しています。(I work as an engineer.)
→ Answer: を (エンジニアをしています。)

Q5. What does 残業（ざんぎょう）mean?
→ Answer: Overtime work

How did you do? If any questions tripped you up, revisit the relevant section above and try making your own example sentences. Active practice is the fastest route to remembering new vocabulary.

Which occupation word was new to you? Or do you have a tricky job title to translate into Japanese? Share it in the comments below — we love hearing what our readers are working on!

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Daisuke is the creator of JP YoKoSo — a Japanese learning site for English speakers. Every article is written to explain Japanese clearly, with real examples, grammar notes, and practical tips for learners at every level.

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