店員てんいん vs. 会社員かいしゃいん: How to Use? Improve Your Vocabulary

When describing people who work in Japan, the words 店員 (tenin) and 会社員 (kaishain) both translate roughly as “worker” or “employee” — but they refer to very different types of jobs. Getting this right matters in everyday conversation, especially when describing someone’s occupation.

Yuka

Rei, if someone works at a convenience store, are they a 店員 or a 会社員?

Rei

A 店員 is a shop staff member — someone who works in a store serving customers. A 会社員 is an office worker or company employee — someone who works at a company, usually at a desk. The convenience store worker is a 店員. The person at the company headquarters is a 会社員!

At a Glance: 店員 vs 会社員

店員 (Tenin) — The Face of the Store

店員 combines 店 (shop/store) and 員 (staff member/person). It refers to anyone who works in a retail or service establishment — the person at the register, the staff handing you your order, the salesperson on the floor. In Japan, 店員 are known for exceptional customer service, greeting customers with いらっしゃいませ and always being attentive. The term applies to part-time (アルバイト) and full-time workers alike in a store setting.

▶ すみません、店員を呼んでもらえますか？
Sumimasen, tenin wo yonde moraemasu ka?
Excuse me, could you call a staff member for me?

▶ あの店員はとても親切だった。
Ano tenin wa totemo shinsetsu datta.
That shop staff member was very kind.

▶ 彼女はコンビニの店員として働いている。
Kanojo wa konbini no tenin to shite hataraite iru.
She works as a convenience store clerk.

Yuka

So if I need help in a Japanese store, I say すみません to get a 店員’s attention?

Rei

Exactly! And you can also say 店員さん to address them directly — it’s polite and common. In Japan, great customer service from 店員 is a cultural point of pride.

会社員 (Kaishain) — The Office Worker

会社員 combines 会社 (company) and 員 (staff member). It describes someone employed by a company — typically an office worker with a regular salary. This is a very common identity in Japan, and you’ll often hear people introduce themselves by saying 会社員です (kaishain desu) when asked about their occupation. The related term サラリーマン (sarariiman) is informal and slightly old-fashioned, while 会社員 is the neutral, standard term.

▶ ご職業は？―会社員です。
Go-shokugyou wa? — Kaishain desu.
What is your occupation? — I’m a company employee.

▶ 彼は大きな会社の会社員だ。
Kare wa ookina kaisha no kaishain da.
He’s an employee at a large company.

▶ 会社員として10年働いた。
Kaishain to shite juunen hataraita.
I worked as a company employee for 10 years.

Yuka

So 会社員 is what you say when someone asks your occupation — like on a form?

Rei

Yes! On official forms in Japan, 職業 (shokugyou / occupation) options often include 会社員, 自営業 (self-employed), 学生 (student), etc. It’s a standard professional identity.

Common Mistakes

Side-by-Side Comparison

Related Vocabulary: Types of Workers in Japanese

Decision Flowchart

Are you describing someone who works in a store/shop, serving customers?
  YES → 店員 ✅
  NO  ↓
Do they work at a company, typically in an office setting?
  YES → 会社員 ✅
Is it a government job?
  → 公務員 ✅
Is it part-time?
  → アルバイト ✅

Quick Quiz

Yuka

OK, let me try! Which word fits each situation?

Rei

Choose 店員 or 会社員 for each sentence.

Q1. The person handing you change at the convenience store.
Answer: 店員 ✅

Q2. Someone who works at Toyota’s headquarters in an office.
Answer: 会社員 ✅

Q3. The salesperson helping you at a clothing store.
Answer: 店員 ✅

Q4. On a form asking for your occupation — you work at an IT company.
Answer: 会社員 ✅

Q5. The person greeting you at a restaurant with いらっしゃいませ.
Answer: 店員 (or ウェイター) ✅

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