Yuka転勤 and 赴任 both come up when someone is relocated for work in Japanese. They describe the same event but from different angles — do you know the difference?
Rei転勤 (tenkin) means being transferred to another location — the act of the company moving you. 赴任 (funin) means going to and taking up your new posting — the act of you going there.
| 転勤 (tenkin) | 赴任 (funin) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Job transfer / relocation (to another location) | Taking up a new post / proceeding to one’s posting |
| Perspective | The transfer itself (company action) | The act of going to the new post (employee action) |
| Register | Everyday business | Formal / written |
| Example | 転勤になりました。 | 4月に大阪へ赴任します。 |
転勤 — The Transfer
転勤 (tenkin) describes the fact of being relocated — transferred from one office or branch to another. It is the common, everyday word used in conversation.
- 転勤になりました。— I’ve been transferred.
- 転勤族の生活は大変だ。— Life as a transfer worker is tough.
- 急な転勤で困っています。— I’m in trouble because of a sudden transfer.
- 転勤先はどこですか?— Where is your transfer destination?
赴任 — Going to the Post
赴任 (funin) focuses on the act of proceeding to the new location and taking up the post. It is more formal and often used in written contexts, business announcements, and speeches.
- 4月に東京へ赴任することになりました。— I will be taking up my post in Tokyo in April.
- 赴任先での生活に慣れてきた。— I’ve gotten used to life at my new posting.
- 単身赴任中です。— I’m currently posted away from my family (solo posting).
単身赴任 — A Key Compound
単身赴任 (tanshin funin) means being transferred alone — leaving your family behind at the home location while you work at the new posting. This is a very common situation in Japan and this compound word is widely used.
- 夫は単身赴任中です。— My husband is posted away from home.
- 単身赴任は孤独だ。— Solo postings can be lonely.
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
English speakers may use 転勤 for everything — which is fine in conversation. 赴任 sounds more formal and is especially natural in the compound 単身赴任. Use 転勤 for casual talk; 赴任 for formal situations or when emphasizing the act of going to the post.
Quick Quiz
What does 単身赴任 mean?
Answer: Being posted away from home alone, leaving your family behind.
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