就業

しゅうぎょう

employment, starting work

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 就業 (しゅうぎょう) primarily refers to the act of starting work or being employed. It is a formal term often used in business, legal, or official contexts to describe employment status or work-related matters.

Common Contexts

就業 is frequently seen in compound words like 就業時間 (working hours) and 就業規則 (work regulations). It emphasizes the formal aspect of employment rather than casual or temporary work.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 就業時間: working hours, used to specify the official hours during which one works.
  • 就業規則: work regulations, the rules employees must follow.
  • 就業開始: start of employment, indicating when someone begins working.

Register and Nuance

This term is formal and typically used in written language, official documents, or formal speech. It is less common in casual conversation where terms like 働く (to work) or 仕事 (job) might be preferred.

Common Learner Notes

Learners sometimes confuse 就業 with 就職 (しゅうしょく), which also means employment but focuses more on the act of finding a job or getting hired. 就業 emphasizes the state or period of working rather than the job search process.

Example Sentences

かれはだいがくそつぎょうご、すぐにしゅうぎょうした。

He started working immediately after graduating from university.

しゅうぎょうじかんはごぜんくじからごごろくじまでです。

Working hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

しゅうぎょうきそくをよくよんでからサインしてください。

Please read the work regulations carefully before signing.