Meaning and Usage
"工員" (こういん) specifically refers to a factory worker, someone employed in a manufacturing or industrial setting. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation and formal contexts when discussing labor or employment in factories.
Common Contexts
This word is often used when talking about jobs in factories, production lines, or industrial plants. It can refer to both skilled and unskilled workers.
Collocations and Patterns
- 工員として働く: to work as a factory worker
- 工員たち: factory workers (plural)
- 工員の給料: factory worker's salary
These collocations help express roles, groups, and conditions related to factory workers.
Register and Nuance
"工員" is neutral and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It is not a slang or casual term, so it fits well in news reports, workplace conversations, and official documents.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "工員" with "労働者" (ろうどうしゃ), which means "laborer" or "worker" more generally. "工員" is specific to factory settings, while "労働者" can refer to workers in various industries. Use "工員" when you want to emphasize factory work specifically.