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Japanese Occupations Kanji: Learn Job Titles in Japanese

Master Japanese occupation kanji: 医者 (isha/doctor), 先生 (sensei/teacher), 警察 (keisatsu/police), 会社員 (kaishain/office worker), 看護師 (kangoshi/nurse), and more. Each entry includes readings, example sentences, and cultural context for discussing work in Japan.

Japanese Occupations at a Glance

The Suffix System

Many Japanese job titles end in suffixes like 者 (sha/person), 師 (shi/master), 員 (in/member), or 家 (ka/specialist). Understanding these suffixes lets you decode new job titles instantly.

先生: Beyond "Teacher"

先生 (sensei) means far more than just "teacher." It's used for doctors, lawyers, politicians, and any respected authority. The kanji literally means "born before": someone who came first in knowledge.

JLPT Relevance

Basic occupation kanji like 先生, 医者, and 会社 appear at JLPT N5-N4. Specialized roles like 弁護士 and 看護師 are N2-N1. Essential for self-introductions and daily conversation.

Core Japanese Occupation Kanji

These twenty kanji and compound words cover essential occupation vocabulary, from doctors and teachers to engineers and artists: everything you need to talk about careers in Japanese.

ItemKanjiHiraganaRomajiJLPT
Doctor医者いしゃishaN4
Teacher先生せんせいsenseiN5
Student学生がくせいgakuseiN5
Office Worker会社員かいしゃいんkaishainN4
Police Officer警察官けいさつかんkeisatsukanN3
Nurse看護師かんごしkangoshiN2
Lawyer弁護士べんごしbengoshiN2
Cook / Chef料理人りょうりにんryourininN3
Writer / Author作家さっかsakkaN3
Singer歌手かしゅkashuN3
Actor / Actress俳優はいゆうhaiyuuN2
Professor教授きょうじゅkyoujuN2
Dentist歯医者はいしゃhaishaN4
Firefighter消防士しょうぼうしshouboushiN2
Farmer農家のうかnoukaN3
Driver運転手うんてんしゅuntenshuN3
Shopkeeper店員てんいんteninN4
Engineer技師ぎしgishiN2
Bank Employee銀行員ぎんこういんginkouinN3
Researcher研究者けんきゅうしゃkenkyuushaN2

All Japanese Occupation Kanji Explained

Explore each occupation kanji with its readings, literal meaning breakdown, and example sentences used in everyday Japanese.

🩺
医者
Doctor
いしゃ (isha)
Literal meaning: 医 (medicine) + 者 (person) = "medicine person"

Example:

医者になるには六年間勉強します。

Isha ni naru ni wa rokunenkan benkyou shimasu.

You study for six years to become a doctor.

👨‍🏫
先生
Teacher
せんせい (sensei)
Literal meaning: 先 (before/ahead) + 生 (born/life) = "born before": one who came first in knowledge

Example:

先生、質問があります。

Sensei, shitsumon ga arimasu.

Teacher, I have a question.

🎓
学生
Student
がくせい (gakusei)
Literal meaning: 学 (study/learn) + 生 (life/born) = "study life": one living to learn

Example:

大学生の時にアルバイトをしていました。

Daigakusei no toki ni arubaito wo shite imashita.

I worked part-time when I was a university student.

💼
会社員
Office Worker
かいしゃいん (kaishain)
Literal meaning: 会 (meet) + 社 (company) + 員 (member) = "company member"

Example:

父は会社員として三十年働いています。

Chichi wa kaishain toshite sanjuunen hataraite imasu.

My father has worked as an office worker for thirty years.

👮
警察官
Police Officer
けいさつかん (keisatsukan)
Literal meaning: 警 (warn) + 察 (inspect) + 官 (official) = "warning inspection official"

Example:

警察官が交差点で交通整理をしています。

Keisatsukan ga kousaten de koutsuu-seiri wo shite imasu.

A police officer is directing traffic at the intersection.

👩‍⚕️
看護師
Nurse
かんごし (kangoshi)
Literal meaning: 看 (watch) + 護 (protect) + 師 (master) = "watch-protect master"

Example:

看護師は患者の世話をします。

Kangoshi wa kanja no sewa wo shimasu.

Nurses take care of patients.

⚖️
弁護士
Lawyer
べんごし (bengoshi)
Literal meaning: 弁 (speech) + 護 (protect) + 士 (scholar) = "speech-protecting scholar"

Example:

弁護士に相談したいです。

Bengoshi ni soudan shitai desu.

I want to consult a lawyer.

👨‍🍳
料理人
Cook / Chef
りょうりにん (ryourinin)
Literal meaning: 料 (fee/material) + 理 (reason/arrange) + 人 (person) = "cooking person"

Example:

有名な料理人がこのレストランで働いています。

Yuumei na ryourinin ga kono resutoran de hataraite imasu.

A famous chef works at this restaurant.

✍️
作家
Writer / Author
さっか (sakka)
Literal meaning: 作 (make/create) + 家 (house/specialist) = "creation specialist"

Example:

村上春樹は世界的に有名な作家です。

Murakami Haruki wa sekaiteki ni yuumei na sakka desu.

Haruki Murakami is a world-famous author.

🎤
歌手
Singer
かしゅ (kashu)
Literal meaning: 歌 (song/sing) + 手 (hand/person skilled at) = "singing hand"

Example:

あの歌手の新しいアルバムが出ました。

Ano kashu no atarashii arubamu ga demashita.

That singer's new album came out.

🎬
俳優
Actor / Actress
はいゆう (haiyuu)
Literal meaning: 俳 (actor/haiku) + 優 (gentle/superior/actor) = "performer of excellence"

Example:

彼女は有名な俳優になりたいです。

Kanojo wa yuumei na haiyuu ni naritai desu.

She wants to become a famous actress.

🎓
教授
Professor
きょうじゅ (kyouju)
Literal meaning: 教 (teach) + 授 (confer/grant) = "one who teaches and bestows knowledge"

Example:

山田教授の授業はとても面白いです。

Yamada-kyouju no jugyou wa totemo omoshiroi desu.

Professor Yamada's class is very interesting.

🦷
歯医者
Dentist
はいしゃ (haisha)
Literal meaning: 歯 (tooth) + 医 (medicine) + 者 (person) = "tooth medicine person"

Example:

半年に一回歯医者に行きます。

Hantoshi ni ikkai haisha ni ikimasu.

I go to the dentist once every six months.

🚒
消防士
Firefighter
しょうぼうし (shouboushi)
Literal meaning: 消 (extinguish) + 防 (prevent) + 士 (scholar/warrior) = "fire-extinguishing warrior"

Example:

消防士が火事を消しました。

Shouboushi ga kaji wo keshimashita.

The firefighters put out the fire.

🌾
農家
Farmer
のうか (nouka)
Literal meaning: 農 (agriculture) + 家 (house/specialist) = "agriculture specialist"

Example:

祖父は農家で米を作っています。

Sofu wa nouka de kome wo tsukutte imasu.

My grandfather grows rice as a farmer.

🚕
運転手
Driver
うんてんしゅ (untenshu)
Literal meaning: 運 (carry) + 転 (turn) + 手 (hand/person) = "carry-turn person"

Example:

タクシーの運転手に駅までお願いしました。

Takushii no untenshu ni eki made onegai shimashita.

I asked the taxi driver to take me to the station.

🏪
店員
Shopkeeper / Clerk
てんいん (tenin)
Literal meaning: 店 (shop) + 員 (member) = "shop member"

Example:

店員に聞いてみましょう。

Tenin ni kiite mimashou.

Let's try asking the shop clerk.

⚙️
技師
Engineer
ぎし (gishi)
Literal meaning: 技 (skill/technique) + 師 (master) = "technique master"

Example:

技師として工場で働いています。

Gishi toshite koujou de hataraite imasu.

I work at a factory as an engineer.

🏦
銀行員
Bank Employee
ぎんこういん (ginkouin)
Literal meaning: 銀 (silver) + 行 (go/conduct) + 員 (member) = "silver-conduct member"

Example:

銀行員は朝九時から働きます。

Ginkouin wa asa kuji kara hatarakimasu.

Bank employees start work at nine in the morning.

🔬
研究者
Researcher
けんきゅうしゃ (kenkyuusha)
Literal meaning: 研 (polish/sharpen) + 究 (investigate) + 者 (person) = "investigation person"

Example:

研究者たちが新しい薬を開発しています。

Kenkyuusha-tachi ga atarashii kusuri wo kaihatsu shite imasu.

Researchers are developing a new medicine.

Japanese Occupations by Category

Japanese occupation vocabulary can be grouped into categories. Understanding these groupings helps you see patterns in how job title kanji compounds are formed.

🏥
Medical & Health
医療 (iryou)

Japan's healthcare system is world-class. Medical titles often use 医 (i/medicine) or 師 (shi/master). Doctors are addressed as 先生 (sensei) just like teachers.

🩺 医者 isha👩‍⚕️ 看護師 kangoshi🦷 歯医者 haisha💊 薬剤師 yakuzaishi
🏫
Education
教育 (kyouiku)

Education is deeply respected in Japan. Teachers are called 先生 (sensei), a title of great honor. The school system runs from elementary through university with rigorous entrance exams.

👨‍🏫 先生 sensei🎓 教授 kyouju📚 学生 gakusei🔬 研究者 kenkyuusha
🏢
Business & Office
ビジネス (bijinesu)

Japan's corporate culture is unique. The 会社員 (kaishain/company employee) is a cornerstone of society. Business card exchange (名刺交換) is a ritual, and job titles reflect hierarchy.

💼 会社員 kaishain👔 社長 shachou🏦 銀行員 ginkouin📊 経営者 keieisha
🎨
Creative & Arts
芸術 (geijutsu)

Japan has a rich artistic tradition. Creative occupations often use the suffix 家 (ka/specialist), like 作家 (sakka/writer), 画家 (gaka/painter), and 音楽家 (ongakuka/musician).

✍️ 作家 sakka🎤 歌手 kashu🎬 俳優 haiyuu🎵 音楽家 ongakuka

Japanese Job Title Suffixes

Understanding these common suffixes is the key to decoding almost any Japanese job title. Once you know these building blocks, you can figure out hundreds of occupations.

SuffixReadingMeaningExamples
者しゃ (sha)Person who does医者 (doctor), 研究者 (researcher), 労働者 (worker)
師し (shi)Master / specialist看護師 (nurse), 技師 (engineer), 薬剤師 (pharmacist)
員いん (in)Member / staff会社員 (office worker), 店員 (clerk), 銀行員 (banker)
家か (ka)House / specialist作家 (writer), 農家 (farmer), 画家 (painter)
士し (shi)Scholar / warrior弁護士 (lawyer), 消防士 (firefighter), 建築士 (architect)
手しゅ (shu)Hand / person skilled at歌手 (singer), 運転手 (driver), 選手 (athlete)
官かん (kan)Official / officer警察官 (police officer), 裁判官 (judge), 外交官 (diplomat)
人にん / じん (nin/jin)Person料理人 (chef), 商人 (merchant), 芸人 (entertainer)

Occupation-Related Compound Words (Jukugo)

These compound words extend beyond basic job titles to cover workplace, career, and employment vocabulary. Many use the same kanji building blocks found in occupation terms.

CompoundReadingMeaning
就職しゅうしょく (shuushoku)Getting a job: "arrive at + job"
転職てんしょく (tenshoku)Changing jobs: "turn + job"
職業しょくぎょう (shokugyou)Occupation: "job + work/business"
仕事しごと (shigoto)Work / job: "serve + thing"
会議かいぎ (kaigi)Meeting: "meet + discuss"
出張しゅっちょう (shutchou)Business trip: "go out + stretch"
給料きゅうりょう (kyuuryou)Salary: "supply + fee"
退職たいしょく (taishoku)Retirement: "withdraw + job"
面接めんせつ (mensetsu)Interview: "face + contact"
履歴書りれきしょ (rirekisho)Resume / CV: "personal history document"

Tips for Remembering Japanese Occupation Kanji

Learn the Suffix System

Master the key suffixes 者 (sha), 師 (shi), 員 (in), 家 (ka), and 士 (shi). These appear repeatedly across job titles. Once you know them, you can decode new occupations by breaking the compound into parts.

Practice Self-Introduction

One of the first things you learn in Japanese is 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai/self-introduction). Practice saying your own occupation: 私は__です (Watashi wa ___ desu / I am a ___). This gives you natural repetition.

Connect to Anime & Media

Many anime feature characters with distinct occupations. Watch shows like Cells at Work (はたらく細胞) for medical terms, or Food Wars (食戟のソーマ) for cooking vocabulary. Context makes kanji memorable.

Collect Occupation Cards

Use our gamified card collection to master occupation kanji. Earn XP, level up, and build your personal Jisho dictionary with every kanji you learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say doctor in Japanese?

The most common word for doctor is 医者 (isha), combining 医 (medicine) + 者 (person). In formal or polite contexts, doctors are addressed as 先生 (sensei). A specialist is 専門医 (senmon-i), a surgeon is 外科医 (gekai), and a dentist is 歯医者 (haisha). Japan has about 340,000 practicing physicians.

What does sensei mean in Japanese?

The word 先生 (sensei) literally means "born before": someone who came before you in knowledge. While commonly translated as "teacher," it is an honorific used for doctors, lawyers, politicians, martial arts instructors, and other respected professionals. Using sensei shows deep respect for someone's expertise.

How do you say your job title in Japanese?

Use the pattern 私は [job title] です (Watashi wa [job title] desu). For example: 私は会社員です (I am an office worker). Key suffixes to know: 者 (sha/person who does), 師 (shi/master), 員 (in/member), 家 (ka/specialist), 士 (shi/scholar). These suffixes combine with descriptive kanji to form most job titles.

What are the most common jobs in Japan?

The most common occupations in Japan include 会社員 (kaishain/office worker), 公務員 (koumuin/civil servant), 看護師 (kangoshi/nurse), 教員 (kyouin/teacher), 店員 (tenin/retail clerk), and 技術者 (gijutsusha/technical professional). Japan's aging population has created high demand for 介護士 (kaigoshi/care workers).

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