Meaning and Usage
The verb "働く" (はたらく) primarily means "to work" in the sense of performing labor or a job. It is commonly used to describe people working at a place or doing tasks.
Common Contexts
- Employment: "銀行で働く" (work at a bank) is a typical way to say where someone is employed.
- Effort: It can express working hard or diligently, e.g., "一生懸命に働く" (work hard).
- Functionality: It also describes machines or systems operating or functioning properly, e.g., "機械がよく働く" (the machine works well).
Collocations and Patterns
- 働く場所 (はたらくばしょ): workplace
- 一生懸命に働く: to work hard, with strong effort
- 働き始める (はたらきはじめる): to start working
- 働きすぎる: to work too much
Register and Usage Notes
"働く" is a neutral, common verb used in everyday conversation and writing. It is polite but not formal; for very formal contexts, other expressions might be used.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "働く" with "作る" (to make) or "動く" (to move). Remember "働く" focuses on the act of working or functioning, not creating or moving.