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How do I ask about someone's job or occupation in Japanese visualisation

How do I ask about someone's job or occupation in Japanese

日本語学習者のための日常生活に欠かせない質問: How do I ask about someone's job or occupation in Japanese
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To ask about someone’s job or occupation in Japanese, you can choose from a variety of expressions depending on the level of politeness and the context. Here are some commonly used phrases:

Polite Expressions

  1. お仕事は何をされていますか？
    (Oshigoto wa nani o sarete imasu ka?)

    • This is a formal and polite way to ask, “What do you do for work?”
    • Suitable for professional or formal settings.

  2. ご職業は何ですか？
    (Goshokugyō wa nan desu ka?)

    • This translates to “What is your profession?” and is also polite.
    • Often used when asking about someone’s specific occupation.

  3. お仕事は何をしていますか？
    (Oshigoto wa nani o shite imasu ka?)

    • A slightly less formal but still polite way of asking, “What kind of work do you do?”

Casual Expressions

  1. 仕事は何してるの？
    (Shigoto wa nani shiteru no?)

    • A casual way to ask, “What do you do for work?”
    • Commonly used among friends or peers.

  2. なんの仕事してるの？
    (Nan no shigoto shiteru no?)

    • This means, “What kind of job are you doing?” and is informal.

Additional Context-Specific Questions

  • If you want to ask where someone works:
    どこで働いていますか？ (Doko de hataraite imasu ka?) – “Where do you work?”
  • To ask about their department:
    どの部署で働いていますか？ (Dono busho de hataraite imasu ka?) – “In which department do you work?”

Cultural Notes

  • Using honorifics like “お” (o) before shigoto or “ご” (go) before shokugyō adds politeness.
  • Avoid overly direct or casual phrasing in formal situations as it may come across as impolite.
  • In very casual contexts, you can simply say: 仕事は？ (Shigoto wa?) – “Work?” This is understood as shorthand for asking about someone’s job.

By choosing the appropriate level of politeness based on your relationship with the person and the situation, you’ll be able to ask about someone’s job in Japanese effectively.

References

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