【何て言う？】How do I say “work” in Japanese?

This series introduces how to translate basic English words with many meanings.

The English word “work” means a lot of things. Here are some expressions you might be looking for.

働く

働はたらく is a basic word to say “work”.

I’ve been working for this company for 5 years.

この会社かいしゃで５年ねん働はたらいています。

He’s graduating from uni this march and starting to work in his hometown.

彼かれは３月がつに大学だいがくを卒業そつぎょうして、地元じもとで働はたらき始はじめる。

I don’t want to work. Isn’t there anyone who can feed me?

働はたらきたくない。誰だれか養やしなってくれないかな？

This is also a common phrase meaning to work.

While 働はたらく can refer to the state of “being independent (not a student)”, 仕事しごとをする tends to focus more on the action of “doing their own job”.

I always drink coffee when I work.

仕事しごとをする時ときは、いつもコーヒーを飲のみます。

I gotta work after eating. I actually haven’t finished the document for the meeting.

ご飯はんを食たべたら仕事しごとをしないと。まだ会議かいぎの資料しりょうが出来できてないんだよね。

You can use this phrase to say someone/something does a good job.

このスケジュールアプリは、すごくいい仕事しごとをしてくれてる。これを使つかい始はじめてから、かなり予定よていが管理かんりしやすくなった。

This schedule app does a really good job. Since I started using it, it’s become much more easier to manage my schedule.

For machines or other mechanical things, 動うごく is one of the best words to say “work/function”.

電源でんげんを入いれても、プリンターが動うごきません。故障こしょうでしょうか？

The printer doesn’t work even though I turned it on. Is it broken?

Its noun form is “動うごき”.

This computer is much faster compared to others.

このパソコンは、他ほかのと比くらべてずっと動うごきが速はやい。