Understanding ～業
The suffix ～業 (ぎょう) is used to indicate a type of business, industry, or trade. It is attached to nouns to specify the sector or field of work, such as 建設業 (construction industry), 製造業 (manufacturing industry), or サービス業 (service industry).
Usage and Nuance
When you use ～業, you are referring to a broad category of economic activity or business. It is commonly used in formal and business contexts to classify industries. This suffix helps specify the nature of a company’s or person's work.
Common Collocations
- 建設業 (けんせつぎょう): construction industry
- 製造業 (せいぞうぎょう): manufacturing industry
- サービス業 (サービスぎょう): service industry
- 農業 (のうぎょう): agriculture
- 漁業 (ぎょぎょう): fishing industry
These collocations are frequently used in news, business reports, and everyday conversation when discussing jobs or economic sectors.
Important Notes
- ～業 is a noun suffix and cannot stand alone; it must be attached to a noun.
- It often appears in compound nouns describing industries or business types.
- Learners sometimes confuse ～業 with ～業務 (ぎょうむ), which means "business tasks" or "operations." Remember that ～業 refers to the industry or business type itself.
Understanding ～業 will help you talk about different industries and business sectors clearly and accurately.