Japanese word

私用

Pronunciation

Romajishiyō

Meaning

  • nounpersonal business

Example

今日は私用で休みます。kyō wa shi yō de yasu mi ma su

I am taking today off for personal reasons.

Illustration for 私用 (personal business)

More examples

駅へ行く前に、私用を済ませておきます。eki e i ku mae ni shi yō o su ma se te o ki ma su

I will take care of my personal business before going to the station.

Core concept

Describes something connected with a person's private needs instead of a shared, public, or work-related purpose.

Common phrases

  • 私用を済ませるshi yō o su ma se ru

    take care of personal business

Similar words

私事shiji: A private matter concerning one's own life rather than public or professional duties.
所用shoyō: A matter that requires one's attention, often used formally when stating a reason for being absent.
用事yōji: A task or matter that needs to be dealt with, whether personal or otherwise.

Definition in Japanese

公的な用事ではなく、個人の都合に関わる用事や使用。kō teki na yō ji de wa na ku ko jin no tsu gō ni kaka wa ru yō ji ya shi yō

Word origin

私用 (shiyō) is formed from 私 (shi, "private") and 用 (yō, "use or business"), so its parts point to a person's own business or use.

Usage tips

  • In workplace Japanese, 私用 (shiyō) can give a general reason for an absence while leaving the exact personal matter unstated.

Other meanings

  • personal usenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word