Meaning and Usage
"従業員" (じゅうぎょういん) specifically refers to employees or workers within a company or organization. It is a formal term often used in business contexts to denote staff members who work under an employer.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "従業員" in official documents, company reports, and discussions about labor, welfare, or company policies. It emphasizes the role of the person as part of the workforce.
Collocations and Patterns
- 従業員数 (じゅうぎょういんすう): number of employees — used in statistics or company profiles.
- 従業員福利厚生 (じゅうぎょういんふくりこうせい): employee welfare benefits — common in HR discussions.
- 従業員を雇う (じゅうぎょういんをやとう): to hire employees — used when talking about recruitment.
Register and Nuance
The term is neutral and formal, suitable for business and official contexts. It is less casual than "社員" (しゃいん), which can also mean employee but often implies a full-time company member.
Common Learner Mistake
Confusing "従業員" with "社員". While both mean employee, "社員" usually refers to full-time company members, whereas "従業員" can include part-time or contract workers. Use "従業員" when referring to all workers collectively regardless of employment type.