業 — Business, Vocation, Arts, Karma

Meaning

The kanji 業 is a versatile character essential for discussing professional, educational, and spiritual life. At its foundation, it represents 'work,' 'business,' or a 'vocation.' Its scope reaches far beyond simple labor, covering the 'arts,' 'performance,' and even the spiritual weight of 'karma.' From the names of global industrial giants to the daily homework assigned to students, this character is woven into the fabric of Japanese society.

Its origin is quite distinctive. 業 is a pictograph of a large, ornate wooden rack used to hang musical bells or stone chimes during ancient ceremonies. The upper portion represents the decorative carvings and the notched 'teeth' where instruments were suspended. Building such a complex stand required immense skill. Consequently, the meaning shifted from the physical 'rack' to the 'skill' required to build it, and finally to 'work,' 'industry,' and 'deeds' in general.

With 13 strokes, this character is introduced to Japanese students in the 3rd grade. Visualizing it as a 'sturdy framework for production' helps learners connect the kanji to concepts of stability and systematic output. Whether it refers to the industry of a nation or the private deeds of an individual, 業 represents the manifestation of focused effort.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The character features two primary On'yomi readings used in different contexts. ギョウ (GYŌ) is the standard reading for secular matters like business and school. In contrast, ゴウ (GŌ) is strictly reserved for Buddhist concepts or heavy expressions regarding fate.

Examples of ギョウ (GYŌ):

産業さんぎょう (sangyō) — Industry
授業じゅぎょう (jugyō) — Class or lesson
卒業そつぎょう (sotsugyō) — Graduation

Examples of ゴウ (GŌ):

自業自得じごうじとく (jigōjitoku) — Reaping what you sow (Karma)
業火ごうか (gōka) — Hellfire
非業ひごう (higō) — An untimely or tragic fate

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The native reading is わざ (waza). This reading highlights 'technique,' 'mastery,' or a specific 'deed' performed by a person. While the kanji 技 is more common for physical sports techniques, 業 is used for artistic or abstract feats.

Examples of わざ (waza):

仕業しわざ (shiwaza) — Someone's doing (often used for mischief or a crime)
神業かみわざ (kamiwaza) — Divine skill or a miraculous feat
早業はやわざ (hayawaza) — Quick work; a feat of speed

Common Words & Compounds

Understanding 業 allows you to categorize many aspects of Japanese industry and academia. Here are common groupings:

Business and Corporate Life:

企業きぎょう (kigyō) — A business enterprise or corporation
業務ぎょうむ (gyōmu) — Business duties; day-to-day operations
営業えいぎょう (eigyō) — Sales; also used to say a shop is 'open'
休業きゅうぎょう (kyūgyō) — Temporary closure of a business
残業ざんぎょう (zangyō) — Overtime work (a common part of Japanese work culture)

Specific Industries:

農業のうぎょう (nōgyō) — Agriculture
工業こうぎょう (kōgyō) — Manufacturing industry
商業しょうぎょう (shōgyō) — Commerce/Trade
漁業ぎょぎょう (gyogyō) — Fishing industry

Education:

学業 gakugyō (gakugyō) — Academic studies
授業中じゅぎょうちゅう (jugyōchū) — During class; in the middle of a lesson

Example Sentences

明日から新しい業務ぎょうむを担当たんとうすることになりました。

ashita kara atarashii gyōmu wo tantō suru koto ni narimashita.

I will be in charge of new business duties starting tomorrow.

彼かれは来年らいねんの三月さんがつに大学だいがくを卒業そつぎょうします。

kare wa rainen no sangatsu ni daigaku wo sotsugyō shimasu.

He will graduate from university next March.

数学すうがくの授業じゅぎょうは難むずかしいですが、とてもおもしろいです。

sūgaku no jugyō wa muzukashii desu ga, totemo omoshiroi desu.

Math class is difficult, but it is very interesting.

プロジェクトの締しめ切きりが近ちかいので、今夜こんやは残業ざんぎょうです。

purojekuto no shimekiri ga chikai node, konya wa zangyō desu.

The project deadline is close, so I have to work overtime tonight.

このレストランは午後ごご１０時じまで営業えいぎょうしています。

kono resutoran wa gogo jū-ji made eigyō shite imasu.

This restaurant is open for business until 10 PM.

コップを割わったのは、いたずらな猫の仕業しわざだ。

koppu wo watta no wa, itazura na neko no shiwaza da.

Breaking the glass was the naughty cat's doing.

日本にほんは工業こうぎょうが盛さかんな国くにです。

nihon wa kōgyō ga sakan na kuni desu.

Japan is a country where the manufacturing industry flourishes.

不況ふきょうのため、多くの人ひとが失業しつぎょうしました。

fukyō no tame, ōku no hito ga shitsugyō shimashita.

Due to the recession, many people lost their jobs.

準備じゅんびをしなかったのだから、負まけたのは自業自得じごうじとくだ。

junbi wo shinakatta no dakara, maketa no wa jigōjitoku da.

Since you didn't prepare, losing was your own fault.

目めにも留とまらぬ早業はやわざで、料理りょうりが完成かんせいした。

me ni mo tomaranu hayawaza de, ryōri ga kansei shita.

The cooking was finished with a blindingly fast feat of skill.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

To remember 業, picture a tall industrial bookshelf where you store your life's 'projects.' The four vertical ticks at the top look like the 'teeth' of a saw or the gears of a machine. These gears sit atop a sturdy base, representing the engine of industry and work. Alternatively, think of it as a scoreboard for your life's achievements; every horizontal line is a level of mastery you have reached in your vocation or studies.