Japanese word

会社員

Pronunciation

Romajikaishain

Meaning

  • nounoffice worker

Example

姉は会社員です。ane wa kai sha in de su

My older sister is an office worker.

Illustration for 会社員 (office worker)

More examples

彼は大学を卒業してから、会社員になりました。kare wa dai gaku o sotsu gyō shi te ka ra kai sha in ni na ri ma shi ta

He became an office worker after graduating from college.

Core concept

Describes a person who works as an employee of a company, regardless of the specific job.

Common phrases

  • 会社員になるkai sha in ni na ru

    become an office worker

  • 会社員として働くkai sha in to shi te hatara ku

    work as an office worker

Similar words

社員shain: Describes a person employed by a particular company as one of its members.
サラリーマンsararīman: Describes a person who earns a salary through corporate employment, usually in everyday speech.

Definition in Japanese

会社に雇われて働く人。kai sha ni yato wa re te hatara ku hito

Word origin

Combines 会 (kai, "meet") and 社 (sha, "company") to form 会社 (kaisha, "company"), then adds 員 (in, "member") for a company employee.

Usage tips

  • In English, office worker often suggests desk-based work, while 会社員 (kaishain) identifies employment by a company and can include non-desk jobs.

Other meanings

  • company employeenoun
  • white-collar workernoun

Word lists with this word