Japanese word

庶務

Pronunciation

Romajishomu

Meaning

  • noungeneral affairs

Example

会社の庶務を担当しています。kai sha no sho mu o tan tō shi te i ma su

I am in charge of general affairs at the company.

Illustration for 庶務 (general affairs)

More examples

担当者が不在のときは、庶務の問い合わせにも対応します。tan tō sha ga fu zai no to ki wa sho mu no to i a wa se ni mo tai ō shi ma su

When the person in charge is absent, I also handle inquiries about general affairs.

Core concept

Describes the broad, practical tasks that keep an organization running when they do not belong to a specialized function.

Common phrases

  • 庶務を担当するsho mu o tan tō su ru

    be in charge of general affairs

  • 庶務を処理するsho mu o sho ri su ru

    handle general affairs

Similar words

総務sōmu: Work that manages an organization's shared office and operational needs.
雑務zatsumu: Miscellaneous practical tasks that do not belong to a specialized area of work.

Definition in Japanese

組織の運営に必要な、文書の整理や備品の管理など、特定の部門に属さない事務を扱う仕事。so shiki no un ei ni hitsu yō na bun sho no sei ri ya bi hin no kan ri na do toku tei no bu mon ni zoku sa na i ji mu o atsuka u shi goto

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 庶務 (shomu) combines 庶 (sho, "various") and 務 (mu, "duties"), giving the sense of general or miscellaneous administrative work.

Usage tips

  • The English label general affairs can sound like a department name, but 庶務 (shomu) often refers to the duties handled by a person or team, as in 庶務を担当する (shomu o tantō suru).

Other meanings

  • clerical worknoun

Related words

  • 庶務員shomuingeneral affairs clerknoun

Word lists with this word