Overview
Discussing your 仕事 (job) or 職業 (profession) is a vital part of a Japanese 自己紹介 (self-introduction). In Japan, your occupation often defines your social role and is one of the first things people ask about in formal settings. At the N4 level, you should be able to identify common job titles and describe your daily work routine. This guide covers office roles, medical professions, service industry jobs, and creative careers. Learning these terms will help you navigate networking events, job applications, and casual conversations with confidence.
Essential Words
The following vocabulary list is organized by industry. These terms frequently appear in N4 reading and listening sections. Pay attention to how titles change based on whether you are talking about yourself or someone else.
Business and Office Roles
These terms describe the office staff and corporate employees who keep Japan’s business world running.
会社員
kaishain
— company employee / office worker
公務員
koumuin
— civil servant / government worker
銀行員
ginkouin
— bank employee
駅員
ekiin
— station staff
社長
shachou
— company president / CEO
Medical and Specialized Professions
These roles require specific licenses. While you might call a teacher "Sensei" to their face, you use 教師 to describe the profession itself.
医者
isha
— doctor
看護師
kangoshi
— nurse
弁護士
bengoshi
— lawyer
教師
kyoushi
— teacher / instructor
政治家
seijika
— politician
Service and Retail Industry
If you are looking for a part-time job (アルバイト) or visiting a shop, you will use these words daily.
店員
ten'in
— shop assistant / clerk
料理人
ryourinin
— cook / chef
美容師
biyoushi
— hair stylist
運転手
untenshu
— driver (taxi, bus)
警察官
keisatsukan
— police officer
Arts and Media
Creative roles are popular among international learners working in Japan's vibrant culture sectors.
歌手
kashu
— singer
俳優
haiyuu
— actor / actress
漫画家
mangaka
— manga artist
通訳
tsuuyaku
— interpreter
翻訳家
honyakuka
— translator
Key Phrases
Practice these sentences to talk about your current situation or your future dreams. Using the correct particles is essential for the N4 exam.
お仕事は何ですか。
oshigoto wa nani desu ka.
What is your job? (Polite)
私はIT企業で働いています。
watashi wa IT kigyou de hataraite imasu.
I work at an IT company.
将来、通訳になりたいです。
shourai, tsuuyaku ni naritai desu.
In the future, I want to become an interpreter.
毎日、残業がありますか。
mainichi, zangyou ga arimasu ka.
Do you have overtime every day?
出張で東京へ行きます。
shucchou de toukyou e ikimasu.
I am going to Tokyo on a business trip.
明日、仕事を休みます。
ashita, shigoto o yasumimasu.
I will take a day off from work tomorrow.
仕事を辞めて、留学します。
shigoto o yamete, ryuugaku shimasu.
I'm going to quit my job and study abroad.
Cultural Notes
The Japanese workplace values social harmony and clear hierarchy. You will often hear お疲れ様です (Otsukaresama desu) to acknowledge someone's effort. The term サラリーマン (Salaryman) refers to white-collar workers, while OL (Office Lady) is still sometimes used for female office staff, though it is becoming less common. Business card exchange (名刺交換) is a critical ritual when meeting new professionals. While traditional 飲み会 (after-work drinking) remains a way to build bonds, many modern companies are adopting more flexible social cultures.
Related Articles
- Mastering Shopping & Money in Japanese (Vocabulary N4)
- City & Directions (Vocabulary N4)
- How to Talk About Hobbies & Sports (Vocabulary N4)
- Travel & Transportation (Vocabulary N4)
- Restaurant & Ordering (Vocabulary N4)
- Health & Hospitals: Essential Japanese Vocabulary (Vocabulary N4)
Practice Tips
Try labeling your friends and family with their Japanese job titles to make the words personal. Practicing your 自己紹介 daily will help you state your career goals smoothly. You can also look at Japanese job boards like Indeed Japan or Rikunabi to see how these titles appear in the real world. Flashcards are effective for mastering the kanji for 会社員 and 看護師, as they appear often in the N4 reading section. Using these words in context is the fastest way to move them into your long-term memory.