出勤

しゅっきん

going to work, at work

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 出勤 (しゅっきん) specifically refers to the act of going to work or being at work, typically used in a formal or business context. It emphasizes the physical act of arriving at the workplace rather than the work itself.

Common Contexts

You will often hear 出勤 when talking about daily routines, punctuality, or attendance at a company or office. It is commonly paired with time expressions to indicate when someone goes to work.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 出勤する: to go to work
  • 出勤時間: work start time
  • 出勤日: workday
  • 出勤が遅れる: to be late for work

These collocations are useful for discussing schedules, attendance, and punctuality.

Register and Nuance

出勤 is a neutral to formal term used mainly in workplace or official contexts. It is less casual than simply saying "会社に行く" (go to the company). It is not used for school attendance.

Common Mistake

Do not confuse 出勤 with 通勤 (つうきん), which means commuting to work and emphasizes the travel between home and workplace. 出勤 focuses on the act of arriving at or being at work.

Example Sentences

まいあさはちじにしゅっきんします。

I go to work at 8 o'clock every morning.

きょうはあめなので、しゅっきんがおくれそうです。

Since it’s raining today, it looks like I’ll be late going to work.

しゅっきんじかんをまもることはしゃかいじんのきほんです。

Being punctual for work is a basic rule for working adults.