If someone asks where you work in Japanese, which word do you use? And when you talk about the atmosphere at your office, which word fits? Both 職場（しょくば） and 勤め先（つとめさき） translate to “workplace” in English, but Japanese speakers use them in very different situations. Confusing them can make your Japanese sound unnatural — or even inappropriate in formal contexts.
YukaRei, when I filled out a form in Japanese, it asked for 勤め先. But my textbook talks about 職場の雰囲気. Are they both “workplace”?
ReiYes, both mean workplace — but 勤め先 is used for factual identification: “where do you work?” on forms or in introductions. 職場 is used to describe the workplace as a place and environment: “the atmosphere at work,” “trouble at the office.” Think: 勤め先 = the name/location of your employer, 職場 = the actual place and its environment.
At a Glance
| 職場（しょくば） | 勤め先（つとめさき） | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Workplace as environment/setting | Place of employment (informational) |
| Focus | Environment, atmosphere, people | Name, location, identity of employer |
| Used on forms? | Less common | Very common (forms, contracts) |
| Describes atmosphere? | Yes (職場の雰囲気) | No |
| JLPT level | N3 | N3 |
職場（しょくば）— The Workplace as a Living Environment
職場（しょくば） combines 職（しょく, occupation) and 場（ば, place/scene) to mean “the place where work happens.” What makes 職場 special is that it describes the workplace as an environment — a place with atmosphere, relationships, culture, and events. You talk about 職場の人間関係 (workplace relationships), 職場の雰囲気 (atmosphere at work), 職場でのハラスメント (workplace harassment). It is the word you use when you want to say something about the nature or quality of your working environment.
Example 1
Japanese: 職場の雰囲気はとても良いです。
Romaji: Shokuba no funiki wa totemo yoi desu.
English: The atmosphere at my workplace is very good.
Example 2
Japanese: 職場での人間関係に悩んでいます。
Romaji: Shokuba de no ningen kankei ni nayande imasu.
English: I am troubled by the human relationships at work.
Example 3
Japanese: 彼女は職場の近くに引っ越しました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa shokuba no chikaku ni hikkoshimashita.
English: She moved to a place near her workplace.
YukaSo 職場 is the word I use when I talk about what work is like — relationships, environment, problems at the office?
ReiExactly. 職場 is the word for the experience of being at work. It is about the physical and social environment — not just a name or address.
勤め先（つとめさき）— The Name and Address of Your Employer
勤め先（つとめさき） literally means “the destination of working” — it points to the specific organization or location where you are employed. It is an informational, identifying word: when someone asks for your 勤め先, they want to know which company or organization you belong to, typically for a form, application, or formal introduction. Unlike 職場, it does not describe the environment — it just names the place. It is the standard word on many official documents and applications in Japan.
Example 1
Japanese: ご勤め先の名前と住所を教えてください。
Romaji: Go-tsutomesaki no namae to juusho wo oshiete kudasai.
English: Please tell me the name and address of your employer.
Example 2
Japanese: ローンの申し込みには勤め先の情報が必要です。
Romaji: Roon no moushikomi ni wa tsutomesaki no jouhou ga hitsuyou desu.
English: Information about your employer is required for a loan application.
Example 3
Japanese: 彼の勤め先は大手の製造会社です。
Romaji: Kare no tsutomesaki wa oote no seizou gaisha desu.
English: His employer is a major manufacturing company.
YukaSo 勤め先 is like the “employer” field on a form — just the name and facts, not a description of what it is like to work there?
ReiExactly. 勤め先 is identifying information. If someone fills out a loan application and writes 勤め先：ABC株式会社 — that is just telling you where they work. There is no description of what the workplace is like.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 勤め先の雰囲気がいいです | 職場の雰囲気がいいです | Atmosphere is a quality of the environment (職場), not identifying info |
| 職場の名前と住所を書いてください（form） | 勤め先の名前と住所を書いてください | Forms ask for employer information using 勤め先 |
| 職場のハラスメント申告（form field） | 勤め先情報 / 職場でのハラスメント | 職場 describes the experience; 勤め先 identifies the employer on forms |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | 職場（しょくば） | 勤め先（つとめさき） |
|---|---|---|
| Describes environment? | Yes | No |
| On official forms? | Less common | Yes (standard) |
| Can follow の + atmosphere word? | Yes (職場の雰囲気) | No |
| Used to identify employer? | Less precise | Yes |
| English equivalent | “The workplace” / “At work” | “Employer” / “Place of employment” |
Usage in Real Life: Forms, Conversations, and Complaints
When filling out Japanese forms (applications, contracts, tax forms), you will typically see 勤め先 with fields for company name, address, and phone number. When you are talking to a friend about your day, problems with colleagues, or the vibe at your office, you will use 職場.
A useful mental test: if you could replace it with “the company I work for” (name/location), use 勤め先. If you could replace it with “at work / the work environment,” use 職場.
Decision Flowchart
Are you filling out a form or providing employer information?
|
YES --> Use 勤め先（つとめさき）
|
NO
|
Are you describing the environment, culture, or atmosphere of your workplace?
|
YES --> Use 職場（しょくば）
|
NO
|
Are you talking about events or problems that occurred at work?
|
YES --> Use 職場（しょくば）
|
NO --> Use 勤め先（つとめさき）if identifying the employerQuick Quiz
YukaLet me try these! 職場 or 勤め先 — which one fits?
ReiThink: environment and experience = 職場. Employer info and identification = 勤め先.
Q1: 保険の申込書に___の住所を書いた。
A1: 勤め先 (tsutomesaki) — an insurance form asks for employer address.
Q2: 最近、___でのストレスがひどいです。
A2: 職場 (shokuba) — describing stress at work is about the environment.
Q3: 彼女の___は渋谷にある広告会社です。
A3: 勤め先 (tsutomesaki) — identifying her employer by name and location.
Q4: ___での人間関係を大切にしましょう。
A4: 職場 (shokuba) — “workplace relationships” describes the working environment.
Q5: ご___の電話番号を教えてください。
A5: 勤め先 (tsutomesaki) — asking for your employer’s phone number = 勤め先 information.
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