60 Professions in Japanese and How to Discuss Careers

What do you do for a living? Knowing how to answer this question in Japanese is a key step toward fluency, especially if you’re interested in the business side of Japanese. 

Whether you work in an office or somewhere more glamorous, this blog post has all the vocabulary words you may need to discuss your career.  

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Common Professions in Japanese

Find your profession (or dream profession) in the list below and get talking about your career!

Japanese	Romaji	English Translation
俳優	Haiyū	Actor
建築家	Kenchikuka	Architect
アーティスト	Ātisuto	Artist
銀行員	Ginkōin	Banker
美容師	Biyōshi	Beautician
料理人	Ryōrinin	Chef
化学者	Kagakusha	Chemist
会社員	Kaishain	Company Employee
建設労働者	Kensetsu Rōdōsha	Construction Worker
化粧品販売員	Keshōhin Hanbaīin	Cosmetic Salesperson
カウンセラー	Kaunserā	Counselor
サイバーセキュリティエキスパート	Saibā Sekyuriti Ekisupāto	Cybersecurity Expert
舞踏家	Butōka	Dancer
データサイエンティスト	Dēta Saientisuto	Data Scientist
デザイナー	Dezainā	Designer
医者	Isha	Doctor
電気技師	Denki Gishi	Electrician
エンジニア	Enjinia	Engineer
芸能人	Geinōjin	Entertainer/Celebrity
農夫	Nōfu	Farmer
映画監督	Eiga Kantoku	Film Director
フライトアテンダント	Furaito Atendanto	Flight Attendant
フリーライター	Furī Raitā	Freelance Writer
園芸家	Engeika	Gardener
グラフィックデザイナー	Gurafikku Dezainā	Graphic Designer
人事担当者	Jinji Tantōsha	Human Resources Specialist
イラストレーター	Irasutorētā	Illustrator
ジャーナリスト	Jānarisuto	Journalist
弁護士	Bengoshi	Lawyer
音楽家	Ongakuka	Musician
看護師	Kangoshi	Nurse
看護助手	Kangoshi Jyoshu	Nursing Assistant
栄養士	Eiyōshi	Nutritionist
牧師	Bokushi	Pastor
パティシエ	Patishie	Pastry Chef
写真家	Shashinka	Photographer
飛行士	Hikōshi	Pilot (Airplane)
警察官	Keisatsukan	Police Officer
看守	Kanshu	Prison Guard
プログラマー	Puroguramā	Programmer
研究者	Kenkyūsha	Researcher
研修医	Kenshū I	Resident Physician
営業マネージャー	Eigyō Manējā	Sales Manager
営業マン	Eigyōman	Salesperson
美容師助手	Biyōshi Jyoshu	Salon Assistant
科学ジャーナリスト	Kagaku Jānarisuto	Science Journalist
科学者	Kagakusha	Scientist
秘書	Hisho	Secretary
サーバー管理者	Sābā Kanrisha	Server Administrator
歌手	Kashu	Singer
ソーシャルメディアマネージャー	Sōsharu Media Manējā	Social Media Manager
ソフトウェア開発者	Sofutowea Kaihatsusha	Software Developer
舞台俳優	Butai Haiyū	Stage Actor
学生	Gakusei	Student
サーフィンインストラクター	Sāfin Insutorakutā	Surfing Instructor
先生	Sensei	Teacher
動物看護師	Dōbutsu Kangoshi	Veterinary Nurse
ウェイトレス	Weitoresu	Waitress
作家	Sakka	Writer/Author

Can’t find your profession on this list? Not sure how to use these words in actual conversation? A program like FluentU can help.

How to Talk About Professions in Japanese

If you want to talk about your job in Japanese, it’s important to remember cultural etiquette. 

First and foremost, be polite! Use the correct honorifics when addressing someone in a professional setting, or even discussing someone of higher status at your work. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that certain professions may carry specific expectations or stereotypes. For instance, businessmen and office workers (known in Japanese as “Salarymen”) are often depicted as overworked and dedicated to their jobs, sacrificing their personal life for work. Meanwhile, artists are often perceived as eccentric and solitary individuals who may struggle financially, despite the popularity of their work. 

Inquiries about professions are often approached indirectly and modesty is valued. This means that even if someone is award-winning or holds a prestigious position in their field, they’ll tend to downplay their achievements. 

Sentence structures for discussing work

When discussing professions in Japanese, it’s essential to understand common sentence structures and expressions.

You can state your profession using this pattern: “[Noun] です.” For example:

医者です。 (Isha desu.) — I am a doctor.

教師です。 (Kyōshi desu.) — I am a teacher.

Here are a few other ways you could phrase things:

__は私の職業です。 (Kore wa watashi no shokugyō desu.) — _____ is my occupation.

私は__として働いています。 (Watashi wa ____ to shite hataraiteimasu.) — I work as ____.

私は__関連の仕事に従事しています。 (Watashi wa IT kanren no shigoto ni jūjishiteimasu.) — I am engaged in _____-related work.

When inquiring about someone’s profession, you can use phrases like these:

あなたは何の仕事をしていますか？ (Anata wa nan no shigoto o shiteimasu ka?) — What is your job?

あなたの職業は何ですか？ (Anata no shokugyō wa nan desu ka?) — What is your occupation?
Responding to Inquiries:

Dreaming up a future career? Check out some examples of how to talk about future plans:

来年、経済分野でのキャリアを築きたいです。 (Rainen, keizai bunya de no kyaria o kizukitai desu.) — Next year, I want to build a career in the field of economics.

将来は医者になりたいです。 (Shōrai wa isha ni naritai desu.) — In the future, I want to become a doctor.

大学を卒業した後、研究者としてのキャリアを追求したいです。 (Daigaku o sotsugyō shita ato, kenkyūsha toshite no kyaria o tsuikyūshitai desu.) — After graduating from university, I want to pursue a career as a researcher.

Remember to use appropriate honorific language and adjust your speech level based on the formality of the conversation. 

Key vocabulary words related to jobs

Here are some crucial Japanese words related to jobs and the working sector. 

Japanese	Romaji	English
仕事に応募する	Shigoto ni ōbō suru	Apply for a job
キャリア	Kyaria	Career
仕事仲間	Shigoto nakama	Colleague
雇用	Koyō	Employment
雇用契約	Koyō keiyaku	Employment contract
雇用保険	Koyō hoken	Employment insurance
フルタイム	Furutaimu	Full-time
面接	Mensetsu	Interview
面接官	Mensetsu-kan	Interviewer
仕事	Shigoto	Job
仕事の申し込み	Shigoto no mōshikomi	Job application
就職	Shūshoku	Job hunting
仕事の達成感	Shigoto no tasseikan	Job satisfaction
職業	Shokugyō	Occupation
オフィス	Ofisu	Office
パートタイムの仕事	Pātotaimu no shigoto	Part-time job
アルバイト	Arubaito	Part-time job
勤務地	Kinmuchi	Place of work
昇進	Shōshin	Promotion
仕事を辞める	Shigoto o yameru	Quit a job
履歴書	Rirekisho	Resume/CV
退職	Taishoku	Retirement
給与	Kyūyo	Salary
給与交渉	Kyūyo kōshō	Salary negotiation
給料	Kyūryō	Wage
職場	Shokuba	Workplace
労働者	Rōdōsha	Worker
勤務時間	Kinmu jikan	Working hours

Work Culture and Etiquette

Japan has a unique work culture. If you’re planning to work in the country, keep in mind some basic Japanese rules of professional etiquette:

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Group harmony is highly valued in the Japanese workforce and individuals often prioritize the collective goals of the team over personal achievements. Team members are expected to work closely together, share responsibilities and contribute to a unified effort. Decision-making in Japanese organizations often involves seeking consensus. 
• Respect: Respect for authority and hierarchy is deeply ingrained in Japanese work culture. There’s a clear chain of command and individuals show deference to those in higher positions. Politeness and formal language, especially when addressing superiors, are essential. 
• Punctuality: Arriving on time for meetings and work-related events is considered a sign of respect and reliability while lateness is frowned upon. Time is often structured efficiently in the workplace to ensure smooth operations.
• Long Working Hours: Japanese work culture is often associated with long working hours, and the concept of 過労死 (karōshi) — death by overwork, has gained attention. While there are efforts to address this issue, the dedication to one’s job and putting in extra hours, known as サービス残業 (Sābisu Zangyō) — service overtime, is still prevalent.
• Business Cards: The exchange of business cards, or 名刺 (meishi), is a ritual in Japanese business culture. When meeting someone for the first time, it’s customary to offer and receive business cards with both hands. Take a moment to study the card before carefully storing it, as casually putting it away may be seen as disrespectful.
• Work Dress Code: Maintaining a neat and orderly workspace is important in Japanese offices. Professional attire is expected, and individuals pay attention to their appearance. 

Understanding and adhering to these cultural norms is crucial for success in the Japanese workplace. 

Respect, harmony and effective communication are at the core of Japanese work culture, shaping the professional relationships and interactions within the business environment.
 

Now you’re ready to discuss your profession in Japanese, from the vocab to the correct sentence structures!