At the A1 level, you should recognize 労働時間 (rōdō jikan) as a word related to jobs and time. You might not use it yourself yet, but you will see it in basic texts about daily life. Think of it as 'work time.' At this stage, it's enough to know that 労働 (rōdō) means labor/work and 時間 (jikan) means time. You might see it on a simple schedule or in a basic introduction to Japanese culture. You don't need to worry about the legal nuances yet. Just remember that when you see these four characters together, someone is talking about how many hours someone works. For example, if you see '8時間' (hachijikan) next to this word, it means '8 working hours.' Focus on recognizing the kanji for 'time' (時間) which you already know, and learn the first two characters as 'work.' This will help you understand basic forms and signs in a Japanese office or on a job application. It is a formal way to say 'work time.'
At the A2 level, you can begin to use 労働時間 in simple sentences to describe your routine or a job. You can say things like '労働時間は8時間です' (Working hours are 8 hours). You should be able to distinguish it from 営業時間 (business hours) of a shop. At this level, you are learning to talk about your workplace and conditions. You might use it when talking to a teacher or a boss about your part-time job (アルバイト). You should also be aware that Japan has rules about these hours. When you look at a job advertisement, you will see this word. It usually comes with a start time and an end time. For example, '労働時間:9:00〜18:00'. You can also use simple adjectives with it, like '労働時間が長い' (working hours are long). This is a very common phrase in Japan. Learning this word helps you talk about your life in a more adult and professional way than just using the verb 'hataraku' (to work).
At the B1 level, you should understand the social and legal implications of 労働時間. You can participate in discussions about 'Work Style Reform' (働き方改革) and express your opinion on whether working hours in Japan are too long. You should be able to use the word in more complex sentence structures, such as '労働時間を短縮するために、効率を上げる必要があります' (In order to shorten working hours, we need to increase efficiency). You are now expected to know that this term is used in contracts and official documents. You should also understand the difference between 労働時間 (actual work time) and 休憩時間 (break time). When reading news articles, you will see this word often in reports about the economy or labor laws. You can now use it to describe trends, such as 'Recently, working hours are decreasing.' You should also be familiar with related terms like 残業 (overtime) and how they relate to the total 労働時間. This level is about using the word to navigate professional environments and understand societal issues.
At the B2 level, you can use 労働時間 in professional negotiations and detailed reports. You understand the difference between Statutory Working Hours (法定労働時間) and Prescribed Working Hours (所定労働時間). You can explain the labor laws of your own country in Japanese using this term. You are capable of discussing the impact of long working hours on mental health and productivity. You can use the word with more advanced verbs like 算定する (calculate), 遵守する (comply with), and 把握する (track/grasp). For example, '企業は従業員の労働時間を正確に把握する義務があります' (Companies have an obligation to accurately track employees' working hours). You can also understand nuances in corporate policy documents and labor union demands. You are comfortable using the term in both written and spoken formal Japanese. You can analyze data regarding average 労働時間 across different industries and provide a summary of the findings. This level requires a deep understanding of the word's role in the Japanese legal and corporate framework.
At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated command of 労働時間 and can use it in academic, legal, or high-level business contexts. You can discuss the historical evolution of labor hours in Japan, from the post-war economic miracle to the current demographic crisis. You can use the term to debate complex topics such as the 'discretionary labor system' (裁量労働制) and its effect on 労働時間. Your vocabulary includes highly specific compounds like 労働時間等設定改善法 (Act on Improvement of Setting of Working Hours, etc.). You can write detailed policy proposals or legal briefs that center on the optimization of labor hours. You understand the subtle rhetorical use of the term in political speeches and corporate manifestos. You can also interpret statistical nuances, such as the difference between 'nominal working hours' and 'actual working hours' in economic research. At this level, you are not just using the word; you are using it to influence opinions and analyze the structural foundations of the Japanese economy.
At the C2 level, your understanding of 労働時間 is indistinguishable from that of a native professional or legal expert. You can navigate the most complex labor disputes involving the calculation of working hours for remote workers, gig workers, and executives. You can critique national labor policies and suggest legislative changes to the Labor Standards Act. You are familiar with the philosophical and sociological debates surrounding the 'end of work' and how the definition of 労働時間 might change with the rise of AI and automation. You can lead high-stakes negotiations between labor unions and management, using the term with absolute precision. You can also appreciate and use the term in literature or high-level journalism to describe the human condition in the modern workforce. Your grasp of the word includes its etymological roots and its evolution in the Japanese lexicon over the last century. You are a master of the term's application across all possible domains, from the microscopic level of individual time tracking to the macroscopic level of global labor economics.

労働時間 في 30 ثانية

  • Formal term for working hours in Japanese corporate and legal contexts.
  • Composed of 'Labor' (労働) and 'Time' (時間).
  • Excludes break times in legal and payroll calculations.
  • Central to Japan's social discussions on work-style reform and overwork.

The term 労働時間 (ろうどうじかん - rōdō jikan) is a cornerstone of Japanese professional and social discourse, especially in the context of Japan's evolving work culture. Literally translated as 'labor time' or 'working hours,' it refers to the specific duration during which an employee is under the direction and supervision of an employer to perform tasks. In Japan, this is not just a logistical term but a deeply political and social one, frequently appearing in discussions about 働き方改革 (hatarakikata kaikaku - work-style reform), ワークライフバランス (work-life balance), and the unfortunate phenomenon of 過労死 (karōshi - death from overwork).

Legal Context
Under the Japanese Labor Standards Act, the statutory working hours are generally limited to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Any time exceeding this is considered 'overtime' or 時間外労働 (jikan-gai rōdō).
Social Context
In casual conversation, you might hear people complain about their 'long working hours' (労働時間が長い), reflecting a culture where staying late was historically seen as a sign of dedication, though this perception is rapidly changing among younger generations.

日本の企業は労働時間を短縮しようとしています。(Japanese companies are trying to shorten working hours.)

When using this word, it is important to distinguish between 'Statutory Working Hours' (法定労働時間 - hōtei rōdō jikan) and 'Prescribed Working Hours' (所定労働時間 - shotei rōdō jikan). The former is what the law dictates, while the latter is what is written in your specific employment contract. Understanding this distinction is crucial for anyone working in a Japanese environment, as it affects how overtime pay is calculated and how your schedule is structured. Historically, Japan has been known for 'Service Overtime' (サービス残業), where employees work beyond their 労働時間 without additional pay, but modern regulations are increasingly cracking down on these practices to protect mental and physical health.

The concept of 労働時間 also extends to the 'Flexible Work' (フレックスタイム制) system, where the total monthly 労働時間 is set, but the daily start and end times are left to the employee's discretion. This flexibility is a key part of the modern Japanese effort to make the workplace more inclusive, especially for parents and caregivers. Furthermore, the term is frequently used in economic statistics to compare Japan's productivity with other G7 nations, often highlighting that while Japanese 労働時間 is high, the output per hour may not always correspond proportionally, leading to debates about efficiency versus duration.

適切な労働時間は、社員の健康を守るために不可欠です。(Appropriate working hours are essential to protect the health of employees.)

Using 労働時間 in a sentence requires an understanding of how it interacts with verbs of duration, change, and regulation. The word is a compound noun (労働 + 時間), and it functions as the subject or object in various professional contexts. For example, to say 'working hours are long,' you use the adjective 長い (nagai) directly: 労働時間が長い. Conversely, to describe a reduction in hours, you would use the verb 短縮する (tanshuku suru - to shorten) or 削減する (sakugen suru - to reduce).

Common Verb Pairings
労働時間を守る (To observe/keep working hours), 労働時間を記録する (To record working hours), 労働時間を管理する (To manage working hours).

新しい法律により、年間の労働時間に上限が設けられました。(Due to the new law, a ceiling has been set for annual working hours.)

When discussing the 'average' working hours, you use the word 平均 (heikin). For instance, 'The average working hours in this department are 40 hours per week' would be この部署の平均労働時間は週40時間です. Notice how 労働時間 acts as a fixed unit. You can also use it in the possessive form to describe the working hours of a specific group: 従業員の労働時間 (employees' working hours). In more formal writing, such as an employee handbook or a legal document, you will see it paired with terms like 適正化 (tekiseika - optimization) to discuss making working hours more reasonable.

Another important aspect is the usage in 'Passive Voice' when discussing regulations. For example, 'Working hours are strictly controlled' is 労働時間は厳格に管理されている. This is common in corporate reports or news articles about labor violations. If you are a manager, you might tell your team, 労働時間の管理を徹底してください (Please be thorough in managing your working hours), emphasizing the responsibility of the staff to log their time accurately. In the context of remote work (テレワーク), the phrase 労働時間の把握 (haoku - grasping/tracking working hours) has become a major topic of discussion among HR professionals, as tracking time becomes harder outside the office.

テレワークでは、労働時間とプライベートな時間の境界が曖昧になりがちです。(In telework, the boundary between working hours and private time tends to become blurred.)

You will encounter 労働時間 in several distinct spheres of Japanese life. Firstly, in the **Corporate/Office Environment**, it is heard during orientation sessions, HR meetings, and performance reviews. Managers will often mention the 労働時間実績 (rōdō jikan jisseki - actual working hours record) when reviewing monthly progress. If you are applying for a job, the 労働時間 section of the job posting (求人票 - kyūjinhyō) is the most critical part to check, as it lists the core hours and the expected amount of overtime.

News & Media
News broadcasts frequently use this term when reporting on labor laws, economic trends, or scandals involving 'black companies' (ブラック企業) that force excessive working hours on their employees.

政府は労働時間の是正を求めています。(The government is calling for the correction of working hours.)

Secondly, in **Legal and Academic Settings**, 労働時間 is the technical term used by lawyers, labor unions (労働組合), and professors. They might discuss 労働時間の算定 (santei - calculation) or the 労働時間規制 (kisei - regulations). If you ever have a dispute with an employer, the legal consultation will revolve around your recorded 労働時間. In universities, students studying sociology or economics will analyze the correlation between 労働時間 and national happiness or GDP. It is a formal term that carries the weight of law and societal structure.

Thirdly, you will see this word in **Official Documents**. Your pay stub (給与明細 - kyūyo meisai) will have a column for 労働時間, broken down into regular hours, overtime hours, and perhaps late-night hours (深夜労働時間). Government surveys sent to companies also use this term to gather data on the national labor force. It is also a key term in international comparisons, such as those published by the OECD, where Japan's 労働時間 is often a topic of global interest. Understanding this word allows you to navigate the logistical and legal realities of living and working in Japan, providing a window into the country's complex relationship with labor.

今月の給与明細で、自分の労働時間を確認しました。(I checked my working hours on this month's pay stub.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing **労働時間 (rōdō jikan)** with **勤務時間 (kinmu jikan)**. While they both translate to 'working hours' in English, their usage in Japanese is slightly different. 労働時間 is a more formal, technical, and legal term. It refers to the actual time spent working. 勤務時間, on the other hand, often refers to the 'duty hours' or the shift period, which might include break times. For example, if your shift is from 9:00 to 18:00 with a 1-hour lunch break, your 勤務時間 is 9 hours, but your 労働時間 is 8 hours. Confusing these in a legal or payroll context can lead to misunderstandings about pay.

Mistake: Using it in casual conversation
Saying '労働時間が長かった' to a friend at a party sounds like you are reading from a government report. Instead, use '仕事が遅くまでかかった' (Work took until late) or '残業した' (I did overtime).

❌ 友達に:「今日の労働時間は10時間だったよ。」 (Too formal)
✅ 友達に:「今日は10時間も働いたよ。」 (Natural)

Another common error is the incorrect use of particles. Because 労働時間 is a noun, learners sometimes forget that it needs a particle to connect to a verb. You cannot say '労働時間短縮する'; it must be '労働時間**を**短縮する'. Additionally, some learners confuse 労働 (labor) with 仕事 (work). While 労働時間 is correct, '仕事時間' (shigoto jikan) is much less common in professional settings and sounds slightly childish or non-standard when referring to legal hours. You should also be careful with the counter for time. When stating the duration, you say '8時間' (hachijikan), not '8労働時間'. The word 労働時間 is the category, not the unit of measurement itself.

Finally, avoid using 労働時間 when you mean 'business hours' of a shop or restaurant. For a store's hours, use 営業時間 (eigyō jikan). If you tell a customer 'Our 労働時間 ends at 6 PM,' it sounds like you are talking about your personal labor rights rather than when the shop closes. This distinction is vital for customer service roles. Similarly, for office hours where the public can visit (like a bank or ward office), use 窓口受付時間 (madoguchi uketsuke jikan) or simply 営業時間. Keeping these terms separate will make your Japanese sound much more professional and precise.

❌ 店の労働時間は何時までですか? (Incorrect for a shop)
✅ 店の営業時間は何時までですか? (Correct: business hours)

Understanding the nuances between 労働時間 and its synonyms is key to mastering business Japanese. Each term has a specific domain of use, and choosing the wrong one can change the meaning of your sentence significantly. Below are the most common alternatives and how they differ from the primary term 労働時間.

勤務時間 (Kinmu Jikan)
This refers to 'duty hours' or the scheduled shift. It often includes break times. Use this when talking about your daily schedule (e.g., 'My shift starts at 9').
営業時間 (Eigyō Jikan)
Business hours. This is used for shops, restaurants, and companies' public-facing hours. It is not used for individual labor.
拘束時間 (Kōsoku Jikan)
Literally 'binding time.' This is the total time you are under the employer's control, from the moment you clock in to the moment you clock out, including all breaks.

実働時間 (jitsudō jikan) is often used to clarify 'actual hours worked' excluding any non-productive or break time.

Another set of related terms includes **残業時間 (zangyō jikan)**, which specifically refers to overtime hours. In discussions about overwork, you will often hear **長時間労働 (chōjikan rōdō)**, which means 'long-hour labor' or 'excessive working hours.' This is a compound noun used to describe the systemic issue of overwork in Japan. If you want to talk about the time spent on a specific task rather than total labor, you might use **作業時間 (sagyō jikan)**, which means 'task time' or 'operation time.' For example, a designer might track their sagyō jikan for a specific project to bill a client.

In highly technical or industrial settings, you might encounter **工数 (kōsū)**, which refers to 'man-hours' or 'person-hours.' This is used for project management and estimating how much labor is required to complete a project. For example, 'This project requires 100 man-hours' would be 'このプロジェクトには100工数が必要です.' While related to 労働時間, kōsū is a unit of work volume rather than a measure of an individual's time. Finally, **就業時間 (shūgyō jikan)** is another formal synonym for 勤務時間, often used in official company rules of employment (就業規則 - shūgyō kisoku).

就業時間中の私用な電話は禁止されています。(Personal phone calls during working hours are prohibited.)

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The word 労働 was popularized by early Japanese socialists and reformers who sought to define workers' rights in the late 19th century.

دليل النطق

UK rəʊ-dɔː-dʒi-kæn
US roʊ-doʊ-dʒi-kɑːn
The pitch accent in Japanese for 労働時間 is usually flat (Heiban), meaning the pitch stays relatively consistent across all syllables after the initial rise.
يتقافى مع
民間 (minkan - private sector) 瞬間 (shunkan - moment) 中間 (chūkan - middle) 区間 (kukan - section) 期間 (kikan - period) 空間 (kūkan - space) 昼間 (hiruma - daytime) 仲間 (nakama - companion)
أخطاء شائعة
  • Pronouncing 'r' as an English 'r' instead of a Japanese flap.
  • Forgetting the long 'o' sound in 'rō' and 'dō'.
  • Stressing the 'kan' too much.
  • Confusing 'jikan' with 'shikan'.
  • Pronouncing 'do' as 'du'.

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 3/5

The kanji are common (B1 level), but the technical compounds can be tricky.

الكتابة 4/5

Writing '労働' requires practice as the strokes are slightly complex.

التحدث 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward with no difficult clusters.

الاستماع 2/5

Commonly heard in news and office settings; easy to identify.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

仕事 (shigoto) 時間 (jikan) 働く (hataraku) 会社 (kaisha) 休み (yasumi)

تعلّم لاحقاً

残業 (zangyō) 給料 (kyūryō) 福利厚生 (fukuri kōsei) 有給休暇 (yūkyū kyūka) 労働基準法 (rōdō kijun hō)

متقدم

裁量労働制 (sairyou rōdō sei) 変形労働時間制 (henkei rōdō jikan sei) 三六協定 (saburoku kyōtei) ワークシェアリング (work sharing) サービス残業 (service zangyō)

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Noun + を + Verb (Transitive)

労働時間を短縮する (To shorten working hours)

Noun + が + Adjective

労働時間が長い (Working hours are long)

Number + 時間 (Counter for duration)

労働時間は8時間です (Working hours are 8 hours)

Noun + の + Noun (Possessive/Attribute)

私の労働時間 (My working hours)

Noun + 内/外 (Inside/Outside)

労働時間内に終わらせる (Finish within working hours)

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

私の労働時間は8時間です。

My working hours are 8 hours.

Simple subject-predicate structure using 'desu'.

2

労働時間は何時までですか?

Until what time are the working hours?

Asking about the end time using 'made desu ka'.

3

毎日、長い労働時間です。

Every day, the working hours are long.

Using 'nagai' (long) to describe the hours.

4

労働時間は月曜日から金曜日までです。

Working hours are from Monday to Friday.

Using 'kara... made' to show duration of days.

5

ここは労働時間が短いです。

The working hours here are short.

Using 'mijikai' (short) to describe the hours.

6

あなたの労働時間は?

What about your working hours?

Casual question with the particle 'wa'.

7

労働時間は大切です。

Working hours are important.

Using 'taisetsu' (important) as an adjective.

8

労働時間は9時に始まります。

Working hours start at 9 o'clock.

Using the verb 'hajimarimasu' (to start).

1

アルバイトの労働時間を決めます。

I will decide the working hours for the part-time job.

Using 'wo kimeru' (to decide something).

2

労働時間が長いので、疲れました。

Because the working hours are long, I am tired.

Using 'node' to show cause and effect.

3

昨日の労働時間は10時間でした。

Yesterday's working hours were 10 hours.

Past tense 'deshita'.

4

労働時間を短くしたいです。

I want to make the working hours shorter.

Using the 'tai' form for desire.

5

この会社の労働時間は適切ですか?

Are the working hours of this company appropriate?

Using 'tekisetsu' (appropriate) in a question.

6

労働時間を手帳に書きます。

I write my working hours in my notebook.

Using the particle 'ni' for destination.

7

労働時間が終わったら、飲みに行きましょう。

After working hours are over, let's go for a drink.

Using 'tara' for 'after/when'.

8

一週間の労働時間を教えてください。

Please tell me the working hours for one week.

Using 'oshiete kudasai' (please tell me).

1

労働時間を短縮するための対策が必要です。

Measures are needed to shorten working hours.

Using 'tame no' to indicate purpose.

2

法律で労働時間の上限が決まっています。

The upper limit of working hours is set by law.

Using 'de' to indicate the means (by law).

3

最近は労働時間の管理が厳しくなりました。

Recently, the management of working hours has become strict.

Using 'narimashita' to show change.

4

労働時間に含まれない休憩時間は1時間です。

The break time not included in working hours is one hour.

Using a relative clause 'rōdō jikan ni fukumanenai'.

5

労働時間が長すぎると、健康に悪影響を与えます。

If working hours are too long, it has a negative impact on health.

Using 'sugiru' (too much) and 'to' (if/when).

6

フレックスタイム制で労働時間を自由に選べます。

With the flex-time system, you can freely choose your working hours.

Using the potential form 'erabemasu' (can choose).

7

彼は労働時間の削減を会社に提案しました。

He proposed a reduction in working hours to the company.

Using 'teian suru' (to propose).

8

労働時間の実態を調査する必要があります。

It is necessary to investigate the actual state of working hours.

Using 'hitsuyou ga aru' (there is a need).

1

法定労働時間を超えて働く場合は、割増賃金が支払われます。

If you work beyond the statutory working hours, extra wages will be paid.

Using 'koete' (exceeding) and passive 'shiharawaremasu'.

2

労働時間の適正化は、企業の重要な課題です。

Optimizing working hours is an important issue for companies.

Using 'tekiseika' (optimization) as a formal noun.

3

裁量労働制では、実際の労働時間に関わらず、一定の時間が働いたとみなされます。

Under the discretionary labor system, a certain amount of time is deemed to have been worked, regardless of actual working hours.

Using 'ni kakawarazu' (regardless of).

4

労働時間の記録を改ざんすることは法律で禁じられています。

Falsifying working hour records is prohibited by law.

Using 'koto' to nominalize the phrase and 'kinjirarete iru' (is prohibited).

5

過度な労働時間は、生産性の低下を招く恐れがあります。

Excessive working hours may lead to a decrease in productivity.

Using 'osore ga aru' (there is a fear/risk that).

6

労働組合は労働時間の短縮を強く求めています。

The labor union is strongly demanding a reduction in working hours.

Using 'tsuyoku motomete iru' (strongly demanding).

7

リモートワークの普及により、労働時間の把握が困難になっています。

With the spread of remote work, tracking working hours has become difficult.

Using 'ni yori' (due to) and 'konnan' (difficult).

8

年間の総労働時間を2000時間以下に抑えるのが目標です。

The goal is to keep total annual working hours below 2000 hours.

Using 'osaeru' (to suppress/keep down).

1

労働時間の弾力化は、多様な働き方を可能にする一方で、長時間労働を助長する側面もあります。

While making working hours flexible enables diverse ways of working, it also has the aspect of encouraging long working hours.

Using 'ippou de' (on the other hand) and 'jojo suru' (to promote/encourage - often negative).

2

本研究では、労働時間と従業員のメンタルヘルスの相関関係を分析します。

In this study, we analyze the correlation between working hours and employees' mental health.

Using 'soukan kankei' (correlation) and 'bunseki suru' (to analyze).

3

労働時間規制の強化は、中小企業の経営に大きな影響を及ぼす可能性があります。

Tightening working hour regulations may have a significant impact on the management of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Using 'kyouka' (strengthening) and 'oyobosu' (to exert/cause).

4

ワークライフバランスの実現には、労働時間の質的な改善が不可欠です。

Qualitative improvement of working hours is essential for achieving work-life balance.

Using 'shitsuteki' (qualitative) and 'fukatsu' (indispensable).

5

日本における労働時間の歴史的推移を辿ると、産業構造の変化が見て取れます。

Tracing the historical transition of working hours in Japan reveals changes in the industrial structure.

Using 'suii' (transition) and 'mite toreru' (can be seen/observed).

6

不払い労働時間の問題は、依然として多くの職場に残存しています。

The issue of unpaid working hours still persists in many workplaces.

Using 'izen to shite' (still) and 'zanzon suru' (to remain/persist).

7

労働時間の算定基準を明確にすることが、紛争解決の第一歩です。

Clarifying the criteria for calculating working hours is the first step toward dispute resolution.

Using 'santei kijun' (calculation criteria) and 'meiku ni suru' (to clarify).

8

高度プロフェッショナル制度は、労働時間ではなく成果で評価する仕組みです。

The high-level professional system is a mechanism for evaluating based on results rather than working hours.

Using 'de wa naku' (not A but B) and 'shikumi' (mechanism).

1

労働時間の短縮がマクロ経済に与える動学的影響については、諸説分かれている。

There are various theories regarding the dynamic impact that the reduction of working hours has on the macroeconomy.

Using 'dougakuteki' (dynamic) and 'shosetsu wakarete iru' (theories are divided).

2

デジタル化の進展に伴い、労働時間という概念そのものが変容を迫られている。

With the progress of digitalization, the very concept of working hours is being forced to transform.

Using 'ni tomonai' (along with) and 'henyou wo semararete iru' (being forced to transform).

3

労働時間の実効的な管理は、企業のコンプライアンス遵守における試金石と言える。

Effective management of working hours can be said to be a touchstone in a company's compliance adherence.

Using 'jikouteki' (effective) and 'shikinseki' (touchstone).

4

過労死等防止対策推進法に基づき、労働時間の是正が国策として進められている。

Based on the Act on Promotion of Preventive Measures against Karoshi, etc., the correction of working hours is being promoted as a national policy.

Using 'ni motozuki' (based on) and 'kokusaku' (national policy).

5

労働時間の縮減と労働生産性の向上をいかに両立させるかが、現代経営の喫緊の課題である。

How to balance the reduction of working hours with the improvement of labor productivity is an urgent issue in modern management.

Using 'shikugen' (reduction) and 'kikkin no kadai' (urgent issue).

6

裁量労働制の適用範囲の拡大を巡る議論は、労働者の自律性と保護の相克を浮き彫りにしている。

The debate surrounding the expansion of the scope of the discretionary labor system highlights the conflict between worker autonomy and protection.

Using 'wo meguru' (surrounding/concerning) and 'soukoku' (conflict/rivalry).

7

労働時間の多寡が幸福度に及ぼす影響は、文化圏によって著しく異なることが示唆されている。

It is suggested that the impact of the amount of working hours on happiness levels varies significantly depending on the cultural sphere.

Using 'taka' (amount/quantity) and 'shisa sarete iru' (is suggested).

8

労働時間という枠組みを超えた、新しい貢献の尺度が模索されている。

A new scale of contribution that transcends the framework of working hours is being sought.

Using 'wakugumi' (framework) and 'mosaku sarete iru' (is being explored/sought).

تلازمات شائعة

労働時間を短縮する
労働時間を記録する
労働時間を管理する
労働時間を削減する
労働時間を延長する
労働時間が長い
労働時間が短い
法定労働時間
所定労働時間
平均労働時間

العبارات الشائعة

労働時間の適正化

— The act of making working hours appropriate and fair, usually referring to reducing overwork.

企業は労働時間の適正化に取り組むべきだ。

労働時間の上限

— The maximum limit of working hours allowed by law or contract.

残業を含めた労働時間の上限が厳格化された。

労働時間の実態

— The actual reality of working hours, often used when the real hours differ from official records.

労働時間の実態を把握するためのアンケートを実施した。

労働時間の把握

— To grasp or accurately track working hours.

管理職には部下の労働時間の把握が求められる。

労働時間の算定

— The calculation of working hours for the purpose of pay or legal compliance.

移動時間を労働時間の算定に含めるかどうか議論がある。

長時間労働

— Long working hours; a systemic issue of people working too much.

長時間労働はメンタルヘルスに悪影響を及ぼす。

労働時間の是正

— The correction of illegal or unfair working hours.

労働基準監督署から労働時間の是正勧告を受けた。

裁量労働制

— Discretionary labor system where hours are not strictly tracked but based on output.

裁量労働制では労働時間の管理が本人に任される。

労働時間の自由化

— The deregulation or increased flexibility of working hours.

労働時間の自由化は、働き方の多様性を生む。

不払い労働時間

— Unpaid working hours, often called 'service overtime'.

不払い労働時間の問題は解決すべき重要事項だ。

يُخلط عادةً مع

労働時間 vs 営業時間

Used for stores/businesses. 労働時間 is for people's labor.

労働時間 vs 勤務時間

Includes breaks/shifts. 労働時間 is the legal work duration.

労働時間 vs 実働時間

Specifically means 'actual hours worked' excluding all interruptions.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"労働時間の切り売り"

— Selling one's time bit by bit; often used to describe low-wage, repetitive work where one only trades time for money without gaining skills.

ただ労働時間の切り売りをするような仕事はしたくない。

Casual/Critical
"労働時間に縛られる"

— To be tied down by working hours; to have no freedom because of a strict schedule.

彼は常に労働時間に縛られていて、趣味の時間がない。

Neutral
"労働時間を削る"

— To cut down working hours, often referring to reducing sleep or personal time to work more, or a company cutting shifts.

睡眠時間を削って労働時間を増やしている。

Neutral
"労働時間が溶ける"

— A modern slang-like expression meaning 'working hours melted away' (time passed very quickly while working).

忙しすぎて、今日の労働時間が溶けてしまった。

Informal
"労働時間を稼ぐ"

— To 'earn' hours; to work longer specifically to get more money from hourly pay.

生活費のために残業をして労働時間を稼ぐ。

Neutral
"労働時間の壁"

— The 'working hour wall'; often refers to income tax limits for part-time workers (e.g., the 1.03 million yen wall).

主婦が労働時間の壁を気にして、シフトを調整する。

Neutral
"労働時間泥棒"

— A 'working hour thief'; something or someone that wastes productive time during the workday.

無意味な会議は労働時間泥棒だ。

Informal
"労働時間に追われる"

— To be chased by working hours; to be under constant pressure because of deadlines and shifts.

毎日労働時間に追われて、息をつく暇もない。

Neutral
"労働時間を捧げる"

— To devote one's working hours (and by extension, life) to a company or cause.

彼は一生をそのプロジェクトの労働時間に捧げた。

Literary/Formal
"労働時間の枠組み"

— The framework of working hours; the structure or system governing work time.

新しい労働時間の枠組みを構築する必要がある。

Formal

سهل الخلط

労働時間 vs 勤務時間

Both translate to 'working hours'.

Kinmu jikan is the shift (e.g., 9-5). Rōdō jikan is the labor time (e.g., 7 hours if 1 hour is lunch).

勤務時間は9時間ですが、労働時間は8時間です。

労働時間 vs 営業時間

Beginners use it for their own work hours.

Eigyō jikan is for the store's open hours. You don't have 'eigyō jikan' as an employee.

この店の営業時間は10時からです。

労働時間 vs 就業時間

It sounds very similar to rōdō jikan.

Shūgyō jikan is more about the 'start and end' times of work in a company rulebook.

就業時間は規則で決まっています。

労働時間 vs 拘束時間

It measures the same thing (time).

Kōsuku jikan includes every minute you are 'bound' to the company, including breaks and waiting time.

トラック運転手の拘束時間を短くする。

労働時間 vs 作業時間

Both involve working.

Sagyō jikan is the time for a specific task (e.g., writing a report), not the whole day's labor.

プログラミングの作業時間は5時間でした。

أنماط الجُمل

A1

[Name]の労働時間は[Time]です。

私の労働時間は8時間です。

A2

労働時間が[Adjective]ので、[Result]。

労働時間が長いので、疲れました。

B1

労働時間を[Verb]ために、[Action]。

労働時間を短縮するために、早く起きます。

B2

[Law/Rule]により、労働時間が[Change]。

新しい法律により、労働時間が制限されました。

C1

労働時間の[Noun]が[Issue]を引き起こしている。

労働時間の不透明さが、不信感を引き起こしている。

C2

労働時間という[Framework]自体の[Transformation]が...

労働時間という枠組み自体の変容が、社会に求められている。

B1

平均[労働時間]は[Number]時間です。

平均労働時間は8時間です。

B2

労働時間を[記録/管理]することを[義務]付けている。

労働時間を管理することを義務付けている。

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

労働者 (rōdōsha - worker)
労働力 (rōdōryoku - labor force)
労働組合 (rōdō kumiai - labor union)
時間外労働 (jikangai rōdō - overtime work)

الأفعال

労働する (rōdō suru - to labor/work)
働く (hataraku - to work)

الصفات

労働集約的な (rōdō shūyakuteki na - labor-intensive)

مرتبط

給料 (kyūryō - salary)
雇用 (koyō - employment)
残業 (zangyō - overtime)
休暇 (kyūka - vacation)
効率 (kōritsu - efficiency)

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Extremely high in professional, legal, and economic contexts.

أخطاء شائعة
  • Using 労働時間 for 'business hours'. 営業時間

    You wouldn't ask a shop 'What are your labor hours?' Use 営業時間 for businesses.

  • Saying '8労働時間'. 8時間 (労働時間は8時間です)

    労働時間 is the concept/category. The unit is just 'hours' (時間).

  • Using it too casually. 仕事 (shigoto)

    If you're at a bar with friends, saying 'rōdō jikan' sounds like you're reading a report. Say 'shigoto' instead.

  • Confusing 労働 (labor) with 運動 (exercise). 労働時間

    They sound similar but 運動 (undō) is physical exercise. 労働 is professional labor.

  • Ignoring the long 'o' sounds. Rōdō (ろうどう)

    If you say 'rodo' with short 'o's, it might not be understood. Extend the vowels.

نصائح

Use with 'wo'

When you are doing something to the hours (like managing or reducing them), use the particle 'wo'. Example: 労働時間を減らす。

Learn the Kanji

労 (labor) and 働 (work) are very common. 働 has the 'person' radical on the left, which helps you remember it's about people working.

Check your contract

Always look for the 労働時間 section in a Japanese contract to understand your rights regarding overtime and breaks.

Work-Style Reform

Mentioning '働き方改革' (Work-Style Reform) along with 労働時間 will make you sound very knowledgeable about current Japanese society.

Pitch Accent

Keep the pitch flat. Don't drop the pitch on 'ji' or 'kan'. Consistency is key for natural sounding Japanese.

36 Agreement

If you work in Japan, knowing about the 'Saburoku Kyōtei' (36 Agreement) is vital as it governs your 労働時間 limits.

Compound Nouns

You can create many specific terms by adding a prefix to 労働時間, like 年間 (annual) or 平均 (average).

News keywords

When you hear 'rōdō jikan' on the news, listen for 'shukugen' (reduction) or 'kisei' (regulation) nearby.

Kango roots

Because it is Kango (Sino-Japanese), it sounds more professional and 'official' than native Japanese words.

Empathy

Discussing 労働時間 is a common way to bond with Japanese coworkers over the shared struggle of a busy office.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Imagine a **Row** of **Do**lls (Rōdō) working for a long **Time** (Jikan).

ربط بصري

A clock where the hands are made of tiny hammers and sickles (representing labor).

Word Web

Work Clock Salary Contract Law Overtime Break Office

تحدٍّ

Try to find the 'Working Hours' section on a Japanese job site like Indeed Japan or Rikunabi and identify the 労働時間.

أصل الكلمة

Composed of the Chinese-derived (Kango) words 労働 (rōdō) and 時間 (jikan). 労働 appeared as a translation for Western concepts of 'labor' during the Meiji Restoration.

المعنى الأصلي: Physical or mental effort for the purpose of production, measured in units of time.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when discussing 労働時間 with Japanese colleagues; complaining too much might be seen as lack of dedication, while praising long hours might seem out of touch with modern health standards.

In English-speaking countries, 'working hours' are often seen as a contractual boundary. In Japan, they were historically seen as a minimum, but laws are now aligning more with Western standards.

The '36 Agreement' (Saburoku Kyotei), a famous Japanese labor law clause regarding overtime. Dentsu overwork scandal which led to national changes in 労働時間 laws. Premium Friday (a government campaign to reduce 労働時間 on the last Friday of the month).

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Job Interviews

  • 労働時間はどのようになっていますか?
  • 平均的な労働時間を教えてください。
  • 労働時間の柔軟性はありますか?
  • 労働時間の記録方法を教えてください。

HR/Payroll

  • 労働時間の計算が間違っています。
  • 労働時間をシステムに入力しました。
  • 今月の労働時間が上限を超えそうです。
  • 労働時間の証明書を発行してください。

News/Media

  • 労働時間の是正が議論されています。
  • 長時間労働が社会問題になっています。
  • 労働時間規制の新しい法律が施行されました。
  • 労働時間の国際比較データが発表されました。

Legal Consultations

  • 不当な労働時間を強いられています。
  • 労働時間の記録が残っていません。
  • 労働時間外の業務について相談したいです。
  • 法定労働時間を超える労働を命じられました。

Daily Office Life

  • 労働時間内に終わらせましょう。
  • 労働時間の管理は自分で行います。
  • 今日は労働時間が長い一日でした。
  • 労働時間の合間に休憩を取ります。

بدايات محادثة

"あなたの会社の労働時間は、一日に何時間ですか?"

"最近の労働時間の短縮について、どう思いますか?"

"労働時間が長いことと、仕事の効率は関係があると思いますか?"

"あなたの国では、平均的な労働時間はどれくらいですか?"

"労働時間を減らすために、どのような工夫をしていますか?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

今日の自分の労働時間を振り返って、何時間働いたか、効率はどうだったか書いてみましょう。

理想的な労働時間について、あなたの考えを詳しく説明してください。

労働時間が短くなった場合、余った時間をどのように使いたいですか?

日本の労働時間文化について、あなたの国の文化と比較してどう感じますか?

将来、AIが普及した時の労働時間はどう変わると思いますか?

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

No, 労働時間 is the total time worked. Overtime is specifically called 残業 (zangyō) or 時間外労働 (jikan-gai rōdō), which is the portion of 労働時間 that exceeds the legal limit.

Legally, no. 労働時間 refers to the time you are actually working. The total time including lunch is called 拘束時間 (kōsoku jikan).

You can say 労働時間が長い (rōdō jikan ga nagai) or use the noun 長時間労働 (chōjikan rōdō).

The statutory limit is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Anything more requires a special agreement (36 Agreement).

Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for both full-time (正社員) and part-time (アルバイト) work.

It is called サービス残業 (sābisu zangyō), which refers to 労働時間 that is not recorded or paid.

Common methods include time cards (タイムカード), biometric scanners, or digital login systems.

Yes, it is a formal and technical term. In very casual talk, people just say 'worked' (働いた).

It means 'to shorten working hours,' a common goal of current Japanese labor reforms.

法定 (hōtei) is the legal limit by the government. 所定 (shotei) is the specific hours agreed upon in your contract.

اختبر نفسك 192 أسئلة

writing

Write a sentence in Japanese saying: 'My working hours are 8 hours.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence in Japanese saying: 'Working hours in Japan are long.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'I want to shorten my working hours.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate to Japanese: 'Please tell me your working hours.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a formal sentence: 'Companies must manage working hours accurately.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Describe the term 'Karoshi' using the word 'working hours'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about flex-time: 'I can choose my working hours freely.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'The statutory working hours are 40 hours per week.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write about the goal of work reform: 'The goal is to reduce long working hours.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using 'outside working hours'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Explain the difference between 労働時間 and 営業時間 in Japanese.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'Working hours should be optimized for health.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using 'actual working hours' (実労働時間).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'I checked my working hours on the pay stub.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about a labor union's demand.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'Telework makes tracking working hours difficult.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using 'average working hours'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'Falsifying working hour records is illegal.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using 'within working hours'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'New laws set a cap on working hours.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce '労働時間' clearly.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'My working hours are from 9 to 5' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Ask 'What are your working hours?' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'Working hours are too long' with emotion.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Explain your daily routine including working hours.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Discuss your opinion on work-style reform.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Explain the concept of 'Karoshi' in simple Japanese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Roleplay: Ask your boss to reduce your working hours.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Explain the flex-time system to a colleague.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

State the legal limit of working hours in Japan.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'I check my working hours every day.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'Working hours in my country are shorter than in Japan.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Explain why tracking working hours is important.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Tell someone 'Don't work outside of working hours.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Discuss the impact of long hours on productivity.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'I recorded my working hours accurately.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Ask 'Is the lunch break included in working hours?'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

State your ideal working hours.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'We need measures to reduce working hours.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Explain 'Service Overtime' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to the word 'rōdō jikan' and identify its meaning.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間は8時間です。' How many hours?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間が長すぎます。' What is the problem?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間を短縮します。' What is happening?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '法定労働時間を守ってください。' What must be followed?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間外の電話は控えてください。' What should you avoid?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間の実態調査を行います。' What is being conducted?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '平均労働時間は週40時間です。' What is the average?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間を正確に記録しましょう。' What is the instruction?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '三六協定により、労働時間を延長できる。' What allows the extension?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間の是正勧告を受けた。' What was received?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '休憩時間は労働時間に含まれません。' Is the break included?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '長時間労働が問題になっています。' What is the issue?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間をシステムで管理します。' How are hours managed?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen to: '労働時間の短縮は、健康に良い。' Why is shortening good?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:

/ 192 correct

Perfect score!

هل كان هذا مفيداً؟
لا توجد تعليقات بعد. كن أول من يشارك أفكاره!