At the A1 level, you only need to know that 職員 (shokuin) means 'staff' and is used for people who work in schools or offices. You will most often see it in the word 職員室 (shokuin-shitsu), which is the 'staff room' or 'teachers' room' in a Japanese school. If you are a student in Japan, this is the room where you go to find your teacher when they are not in the classroom. At this level, don't worry about the complex difference between 'shokuin' and 'shain'; just remember that 'shokuin' is for schools and public places. When you want to ask a staff member for help, you can say 'Shokuin-san!' to get their attention politely. You might also see signs that say '職員以外立入禁止' (shokuin igai tachiiri kinshi), which means 'No entry except for staff.' This is a common sign in many buildings. The word is made of two kanji: 'job' and 'member.' It's a very stable, common noun that appears early in textbooks because of its importance in the school environment. Practice saying it as 'sho-ku-in' with three distinct beats.
At the A2 level, you should begin to distinguish between 職員 (shokuin) and other words for workers like 店員 (ten-in - shop assistant) and 社員 (shain - company employee). You will use 'shokuin' when talking about people who work at the library (図書館の職員), the city hall (市役所の職員), or a hospital (病院の職員). You might start using it in simple sentences to describe someone's job: 'Ane wa daigaku no shokuin desu' (My sister is a university staff member). You will also notice that 'shokuin' is used for the administrative staff who help with paperwork. At this level, you can understand simple instructions involving staff, such as 'Shokuin no shiji ni shitagatte kudasai' (Please follow the staff's instructions). You should also be comfortable using the counter for people (-nin or -mei) with this word, such as 'Shokuin ga go-nin imasu' (There are five staff members). Understanding the context of 'public service' or 'institutional work' is key here.
By the B1 level, you should understand the institutional nuances of 職員 (shokuin). This word is used for non-commercial organizations. While a private company worker is a 'shain,' someone working for a non-profit organization (NPO) or a government-affiliated body is a 'shokuin.' You will encounter this word in more complex compound nouns like 職員会議 (shokuin-kaigi - staff meeting) or 職員採用 (shokuin-saiyō - recruitment of staff). You should be able to discuss the roles of staff in a more detailed way. For example, 'Jimu-shokuin' (administrative staff) versus 'Kyō-shokuin' (teaching and administrative staff together). At B1, you can use the word to describe organizational problems, like 'Shokuin-busoku' (staff shortage), which is a common topic in Japanese news. You should also be aware of the formal plural form 'shokuin-gata' used when a speaker is addressing the staff respectfully. The distinction between 'shokuin' (the role) and 'kōmuin' (the legal status as a civil servant) becomes more important at this stage of learning.
At the B2 level, 職員 (shokuin) is used in discussions about labor, management, and organizational structure. You will see it in headlines regarding 'shokuin no taigū' (treatment/compensation of staff) or 'shokuin no fukuri-kōsei' (staff welfare/benefits). You should understand that 'shokuin' is the collective term for the personnel of an institution. In a hospital, this includes not just the doctors and nurses, but also the janitors and administrative clerks. You will encounter the word in formal reports and academic texts. For example, 'shokuin no ishiki chōsa' (a survey of staff attitudes). At this level, you should also be familiar with related terms like 'hijōkin-shokuin' (part-time/non-regular staff) and 'seishokuin' (full-time/regular staff). These distinctions are crucial for understanding the Japanese employment system. You can also use the word in the context of professional ethics, such as 'shokuin no rinri' (staff ethics). Your ability to use 'shokuin' in complex sentences with particles like 'ni yoru' (by) or 'ni tai-shite' (towards) should be well-developed.
At the C1 level, you will explore the legal and sociological implications of the term 職員 (shokuin). In Japanese law, specifically the Local Public Service Act (地方公務員法), the term 'shokuin' is used to define the rights and duties of individuals working for local governments. You will encounter sophisticated discourse about the 'shokuin-dantai' (staff organizations or labor unions) and their role in collective bargaining. You should be able to analyze the nuances between 'shokuin' and 'jūgyōin' in a legal text, where 'jūgyōin' is often used in the Labor Standards Act to refer to employees in the private sector. You will also see 'shokuin' used in high-level academic discussions about bureaucracy (kanryōsei) and the evolution of the Japanese administrative state. At this level, you can use the word to discuss subtle power dynamics within an institution, such as the relationship between 'kanrishoku' (management-level staff) and 'ippan-shokuin' (general staff). You are expected to use the word with perfect register and in combination with advanced vocabulary.
At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 職員 (shokuin) and its place in the history of Japanese labor terminology. You can discuss how the term evolved from the pre-war administrative systems into the modern democratic framework. You can engage in deep debates about the 'shokuin-shitsu' culture in Japanese schools and its impact on teacher burnout or pedagogical collaboration. You will understand the term's use in specialized fields like 'kyōshokuin-menkyo' (educational personnel certification) and the subtle linguistic shifts when 'shokuin' is replaced by more modern terms like 'asoshieito' (associate) in internationalized Japanese companies. You can read and critique government white papers (hakusho) that use 'shokuin' to describe human resource trends in the public sector. Your usage of the word is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker, incorporating it into complex rhetorical structures and understanding every possible connotation, from the mundane administrative clerk to the high-ranking institutional official.

職員 em 30 segundos

  • 職員 (shokuin) means staff member or official.
  • Used mainly for schools, hospitals, and government offices.
  • Contrasts with 'shain' (private company employee).
  • Commonly found in 'shokuin-shitsu' (staff room).

The Japanese word 職員 (しょくいん - shokuin) is a fundamental noun that translates to "staff member," "employee," or "official." While English often uses "staff" as a collective noun, shokuin functions as a countable noun referring to the individuals who work within an organization, particularly those in public, educational, or non-commercial sectors. Understanding shokuin requires looking at its constituent kanji: (shoku), meaning "employment," "post," or "duty," and (in), meaning "member" or "person in charge." Together, they denote a person who holds a specific post or duty within a larger body.

Core Context: Public vs. Private
In the Japanese linguistic landscape, shokuin is most commonly associated with public institutions such as city halls (役所 - yakusho), schools (学校 - gakkō), and hospitals (病院 - byōin). If you are at a university, the people working in the administration office are shokuin. If you are at a library, the librarians are shokuin. This contrasts with shain (社員), which is strictly reserved for employees of a private company (会社 - kaisha).
The Concept of the 'Staff Room'
One of the first places a learner encounters this word is in the term 職員室 (shokuin-shitsu). In Japanese schools, teachers do not have individual offices; instead, they all share one large room called the shokuin-shitsu. It serves as the nerve center for the school, where planning, meetings, and even discipline occur. This cultural setup reinforces the collective nature of the shokuin identity.

職員の方に聞いてみてください。」

(Shokuin no kata ni kiite mite kudasai.) — "Please try asking a staff member."

The term is inherently formal and polite. While you might call a waiter ten-in (店員) in a shop, you would never use shokuin for retail staff. Shokuin implies a level of administrative or professional duty. For instance, a government official is often called a kōmuin (公務員), but in the context of their daily tasks at the desk, they are referred to as the shokuin of that department. It is a word that emphasizes the role over the individual personality.

「新しい職員が3名入りました。」

(Atarashii shokuin ga san-mei hairimashita.) — "Three new staff members have joined."
Distinguishing from Synonyms
  • 社員 (Shain): Employees of private companies. Think "corporate."
  • 従業員 (Jūgyōin): A broader, more technical term for any employee, often used in legal or statistical contexts.
  • スタッフ (Sutaffu): A loanword used frequently in creative, retail, or casual event contexts.

In summary, shokuin is the go-to word for anyone working in the public interest or within a large non-profit structure. It carries a sense of stability and institutional belonging. Whether you are navigating a Japanese city hall to register your address or talking to your child's teacher, shokuin is the term that bridges the gap between the individual and the organization they represent.

Using 職員 (shokuin) correctly involves understanding its grammatical placement as a noun and its role in compound words. In Japanese, nouns can often be combined to create more specific meanings without the need for particles, and shokuin is a prime candidate for this. For example, adding kaigi (meeting) creates shokuin-kaigi (staff meeting). Here we will explore how to integrate this word into your daily Japanese across various levels of formality.

「彼はこの大学の職員です。」

(Kare wa kono daigaku no shokuin desu.) — "He is a staff member of this university."
Common Sentence Patterns
  1. [Organization] + の + 職員: This is the standard way to identify where someone works. (e.g., 市役所の職員 - City hall staff).
  2. 職員 + に + [Verb]: Used when the staff is the recipient of an action. (e.g., 職員に相談する - To consult with the staff).
  3. 職員 + として + [Verb]: Expressing a role. (e.g., 職員として働く - To work as a staff member).

職員一同、お待ちしております。」

(Shokuin ichidō, omachi shite orimasu.) — "All the staff are looking forward to seeing you." (Formal/Business context)

In a professional setting, you will often hear shokuin ichidō (職員一同), which means "all the staff members as one." This is common in greeting cards, formal announcements, or at the start of an event. It emphasizes harmony and collective responsibility, which are core values in Japanese workplace culture. Conversely, if you are referring to a specific type of staff, such as office workers versus technical workers, you might use jimu-shokuin (事務職員) or gijutsu-shokuin (技術職員).

Usage in Different Tenses
  • Present: 職員が足りない (Shokuin ga tarinai) - We are short-staffed.
  • Past: 職員だった (Shokuin datta) - I was a staff member.
  • Polite Negative: 職員ではありません (Shokuin dewa arimasen) - I am not a staff member.

Lastly, be aware of the difference between shokuin and the people they serve. In a school, teachers are shokuin, but students are gakusei. In a hospital, doctors and nurses are shokuin, but patients are kanja. The term shokuin always positions the individual within the hierarchy of the service provider.

If you live in Japan, 職員 (shokuin) is a word you will encounter daily, though perhaps not in the trendy cafes of Shibuya. It is the language of the 'official' Japan. You will hear it over loudspeakers in government buildings, read it on signs in public parks, and see it in the signatures of emails from school administrators. It is the vocabulary of the infrastructure that keeps Japanese society running smoothly.

職員以外、立入禁止。」

(Shokuin igai, tachiiri kinshi.) — "No entry except for staff."
Location 1: The City Hall (役所)
When you go to register your address (jūminhyō), the person behind the counter is a shokuin. You might hear a colleague call out, "Shokuin no Satō-san!" (Staff member Sato!). In this context, it feels very formal and bureaucratic. Announcements might say, "Please follow the instructions of the staff (shokuin no shiji ni saganatte kudasai)."
Location 2: Schools and Universities
As mentioned, the shokuin-shitsu is the teachers' lounge. However, it's also used when a student needs to find someone from the administrative office. "I need to talk to the office staff" would be "Jimu-shokuin to hanashitai." In Japanese universities, there is a clear distinction between the kyōju (professors) and the shokuin (staff), though both are technically employees of the institution.

「この病院の職員はみんな親切です。」

(Kono byōin no shokuin wa minna shinsetsu desu.) — "The staff at this hospital are all kind."

In hospitals, shokuin covers everyone from the receptionists to the technicians. While you call a doctor sensei and a nurse kangoshi-san, collectively they are the byōin-shokuin. You'll see this word on their ID badges (職員証 - shokuin-shō). If you are looking for someone to help you with paperwork in a hospital, looking for a shokuin is your best bet.

Finally, you will hear this word in the news. When the government discusses hiring freezes or wage increases for public workers, they use the term kōmuin (civil servants), but when discussing the actual number of people working in a specific department, they use shokuin-sū (number of staff). It is a word that balances the abstract concept of a "job" with the reality of the "people" doing it.

The most common mistake learners make with 職員 (shokuin) is using it as a universal translation for "employee" or "staff." While English is quite flexible with these terms, Japanese is highly specific based on the type of organization. Using the wrong word can sound unnatural or even slightly rude, as it might imply a different level of formality or a different sector of the economy than intended.

Mistake 1: Using 'Shokuin' for Private Companies
If you work for Sony, Toyota, or a small local marketing firm, you are a 社員 (shain), not a shokuin. Calling a corporate employee a shokuin makes it sound like they work for the government or a school. Incorrect: 「私はソニーの職員です。」 (I am a Sony staff member.) Correct: 「私はソニーの社員です。」
Mistake 2: Confusing 'Shokuin' with 'Ten-in'
When you are at a shop (店 - mise) or a restaurant, the staff members are 店員 (ten-in). Using shokuin in a retail environment is a common error. Shokuin implies a desk job or a professional service, whereas ten-in specifically refers to someone serving customers in a shop.

「❌ レストランの職員を呼びました。」

Correct: 「✅ レストランの店員を呼びました。」 (I called the restaurant staff.)

Another mistake involves the word 公務員 (kōmuin). While all kōmuin (civil servants) working in an office are shokuin, not all shokuin are kōmuin. For example, staff at a private university are shokuin but they are not kōmuin because they don't work for the government. Using kōmuin to describe a private school clerk would be factually incorrect.

Finally, watch out for the pluralization. English speakers often try to add a plural marker, but in Japanese, shokuin can mean one person or a hundred people. Context and counters (like -mei) are the only ways to specify quantity. Avoid trying to say "shokuin-tachi" unless you are specifically emphasizing a group of individuals in a narrative way; usually, shokuin or shokuin-gata (polite plural) is sufficient.

To truly master 職員 (shokuin), you need to see where it sits among its "coworkers" in the Japanese vocabulary. Depending on the setting, the level of formality, and the nature of the work, you might choose a different word. Here is a breakdown of the most common alternatives.

社員 (Shain)
Usage: For-profit companies.
Comparison: If shokuin is for the public sector, shain is for the private sector. You are a shain of Google, but a shokuin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
従業員 (Jūgyōin)
Usage: Formal/Legal/Statistical.
Comparison: This is a very broad term for anyone who is employed. You'll see this in contracts or news reports about "the number of employees nationwide." It's less personal than shokuin.
スタッフ (Sutaffu)
Usage: Casual, Events, Creative.
Comparison: Borrowed from English, this is used for event staff, film crews, or in modern businesses that want to sound less rigid. It lacks the "official" weight of shokuin.
公務員 (Kōmuin)
Usage: Government/Civil Service.
Comparison: This refers to the status of being a government worker. Shokuin refers to the role within the office. "My dream is to be a kōmuin" vs. "The shokuin at the window was helpful."
WordBest For...Vibe
職員Schools, Hospitals, GovernmentOfficial, Institutional
社員Corporations, BusinessesProfessional, Corporate
店員Shops, RestaurantsService-oriented
作業員Construction, Manual LaborTask-focused

When in doubt, if the person works in a large building that doesn't sell physical goods (like a library or a town hall), shokuin is almost always the correct choice. If they are wearing a suit in a skyscraper, go with shain. If they are wearing an apron, go with ten-in.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

In the pre-modern era, 'shoku' referred specifically to roles within the Ritsuryō legal system. Today, it has been democratized to mean any institutional job.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ʃoʊ.kuː.iːn/
US /ʃoʊ.ku.in/
Japanese is a pitch-accent language. In 'shokuin', the pitch starts low on 'sho' and rises on 'kuin'.
Rima com
Bokuin (墨印) Tokuin (特員) Gokuin (極印) Hokuin (北院) Kokuin (刻印) Mokuin (目印 - though usually shirushi) Rokuin (録員) Sokuin (側員)
Erros comuns
  • Pronouncing it as 'shokun' (gentlemen/you all).
  • Stretching the 'i' too long like 'shoku-een'.
  • Merging 'ku' and 'i' into a single diphthong.
  • Incorrect pitch accent (starting high).
  • Confusing the 'n' with an English 'n' (it should be more nasal).

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 2/5

The kanji are common but require some study for beginners.

Escrita 3/5

The kanji '職' has many strokes and can be tricky to write by hand.

Expressão oral 1/5

Pronunciation is straightforward and follows standard Japanese phonetics.

Audição 1/5

Easy to recognize in context, especially in schools and public offices.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

学校 (School) 先生 (Teacher) 仕事 (Work) 人 (Person) 室 (Room)

Aprenda a seguir

社員 (Company employee) 公務員 (Civil servant) 事務 (Office work) 採用 (Hiring) 職場 (Workplace)

Avançado

厚生労働省 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) 労働基準法 (Labor Standards Act) 福利厚生 (Welfare/Benefits)

Gramática essencial

The particle 'no' for belonging

学校の職員 (Staff of the school)

Counting people with -nin/mei

職員が三人います (There are three staff members)

Polite requests with 'te kudasai'

職員に聞いてください (Please ask the staff)

Describing occupations with 'wa ... desu'

彼は職員です (He is a staff member)

Purpose with 'tame no'

職員のための研修 (Training for the staff)

Exemplos por nível

1

職員室はどこですか。

Where is the staff room?

Uses the basic 'A wa B desu ka' pattern.

2

あの人は学校の職員です。

That person is a school staff member.

The particle 'no' shows belonging.

3

職員に聞いてください。

Please ask the staff.

Uses the 'ni kiite kudasai' polite request form.

4

図書館の職員は親切です。

The library staff are kind.

Adjective 'shinsetsu' describes the noun 'shokuin'.

5

新しい職員が来ました。

A new staff member came.

Uses the past tense 'kimashita'.

6

職員室に先生がいます。

There is a teacher in the staff room.

Uses 'ni ... ga imasu' for location.

7

私はこの病院の職員ではありません。

I am not a staff member of this hospital.

Negative form 'dewa arimasen'.

8

職員の佐藤さんです。

This is Mr. Sato, a staff member.

Apposition using 'no'.

1

市役所の職員に相談しました。

I consulted with a city hall staff member.

Verb 'sōdan suru' takes the particle 'ni'.

2

職員専用の入り口はこちらです。

The staff-only entrance is this way.

Compound 'shokuin-sen'yō' means staff-only.

3

大学の職員になりたいです。

I want to become a university staff member.

Uses 'ni naritai' to express desire.

4

職員が足りなくて困っています。

We are in trouble because we are short-staffed.

Uses the '-te' form to show cause/reason.

5

すべての職員にメールを送りました。

I sent an email to all the staff.

'Subete no' modifies 'shokuin'.

6

職員の方は青いネクタイをしています。

The staff members are wearing blue ties.

'No kata' is a polite way to refer to people.

7

職員会議は三時から始まります。

The staff meeting starts at three o'clock.

Compound 'shokuin-kaigi'.

8

駅の職員に道を尋ねました。

I asked a station staff member for directions.

Uses 'tazuneru' (to ask/inquire).

1

事務職員として採用されました。

I was hired as an administrative staff member.

'Toshite' means 'as' or 'in the capacity of'.

2

職員の数は年々減っています。

The number of staff is decreasing year by year.

'Nen-nen' means year by year.

3

教育職員の免許を持っています。

I have a teaching staff license.

Compound 'kyōiku-shokuin'.

4

職員の間で意見が分かれました。

Opinions were divided among the staff.

'No aida de' means 'among' or 'between'.

5

彼は非常に優秀な職員です。

He is a very excellent staff member.

'Hijō ni' is a formal 'very'.

6

職員の健康管理が重要です。

Health management of the staff is important.

Compound 'kenkō-kanri'.

7

新しいシステムについて職員に説明した。

I explained the new system to the staff.

'Ni tsuite' means 'about'.

8

この施設には多くの職員が働いている。

Many staff members are working in this facility.

Standard 'ga hataraite iru' construction.

1

職員の不祥事について謝罪した。

They apologized for the staff's misconduct.

'Fushōji' means scandal or misconduct.

2

非正規職員の処遇改善が求められている。

Improved treatment of non-regular staff is being demanded.

'Hi-seiki shokuin' refers to non-regular/part-time staff.

3

職員の専門性を高めるための研修を行う。

We will conduct training to enhance the expertise of the staff.

'Tame no' indicates purpose.

4

管理職と一般職員のコミュニケーションを促す。

Encourage communication between management and general staff.

'Unagasu' means to encourage or prompt.

5

大学側は職員の要求を受け入れた。

The university side accepted the staff's demands.

'Uke-ireta' means accepted.

6

職員一人ひとりの意識改革が必要です。

A change in the mindset of each individual staff member is necessary.

'Hitori-hitori' emphasizes every single person.

7

彼は長年、市の職員として貢献してきた。

He has contributed for many years as a city staff member.

Present perfect continuous nuance with '-te kita'.

8

職員の配置転換が行われた。

A reshuffling of staff positions was carried out.

'Haichi-tenkan' means personnel reshuffle.

1

職員団体との交渉は難航している。

Negotiations with the staff organization are struggling.

'Nankō shite iru' means having a difficult time/stalled.

2

公立学校の職員は地方公務員法が適用される。

The Local Public Service Act applies to public school staff.

'Tekiyō sareru' is the passive form of 'apply'.

3

職員のメンタルヘルス対策を強化すべきだ。

Mental health measures for staff should be strengthened.

'Subeki' means 'should' or 'ought to'.

4

行政職員の倫理観が問われている。

The ethical standards of administrative staff are being questioned.

'Towarete iru' means being questioned/challenged.

5

職員の定年延長に関する議論が進んでいる。

Discussions regarding the extension of the retirement age for staff are progressing.

'Ni kansuru' means 'regarding'.

6

組織の活性化には職員の多様性が欠かせない。

Staff diversity is indispensable for revitalizing the organization.

'Kakasenai' means indispensable/essential.

7

不適切な発言をした職員が処分された。

The staff member who made inappropriate remarks was disciplined.

'Shobun sareta' means was disciplined/punished.

8

職員の意欲を向上させる施策を導入する。

We will introduce measures to improve staff motivation.

'Shisaku' means a policy measure.

1

職員の自律的なキャリア形成を支援する制度設計。

System design to support staff's autonomous career development.

'Jiritsuteki' means autonomous/self-directed.

2

組織文化の変容が職員の行動様式に及ぼす影響。

The influence that the transformation of organizational culture has on staff behavior patterns.

'Oyobosu' means to exert/influence.

3

高度な専門性を有する職員の確保が急務である。

Securing staff with high levels of expertise is an urgent matter.

'Kyūmu' means urgent task.

4

職員の労働環境とサービス品質の相関関係。

The correlation between staff working environments and service quality.

Academic term 'sōkan kankei'.

5

官民の職員交流を通じてノウハウを共有する。

Share know-how through staff exchange between the public and private sectors.

'Kan-min' refers to government and people/private sector.

6

職員のエンゲージメント向上に資する取り組み。

Efforts that contribute to improving staff engagement.

'Shisuru' is a formal word for 'to contribute to'.

7

職務遂行能力に基づいた職員評価システムの構築。

Construction of a staff evaluation system based on job performance ability.

'Motozuita' means based on.

8

激変する社会情勢に即応できる職員の育成。

Cultivating staff who can respond immediately to rapidly changing social conditions.

'Sokuō' means immediate response/adaptation.

Antônimos

Colocações comuns

職員室
職員会議
職員採用
職員証
職員用
事務職員
正規職員
派遣職員
職員一同
職員組合

Frases Comuns

職員の方

— A polite way to refer to a staff member.

職員の方に案内してもらいました。

職員募集

— Staff wanted / Recruitment notice.

壁に職員募集のポスターがある。

職員寮

— Staff dormitory.

病院の近くに職員寮がある。

職員割引

— Staff discount.

職員割引で安く買えます。

職員手当

— Staff allowance/benefits.

職員手当が支給された。

職員名簿

— Staff directory / list of names.

職員名簿で電話番号を確認する。

職員研修

— Staff training / workshop.

来週は職員研修があります。

職員不足

— Staff shortage.

職員不足で忙しい。

職員配置

— Staff allocation / placement.

職員配置を見直す必要がある。

職員住宅

— Staff housing.

彼は職員住宅に住んでいる。

Frequentemente confundido com

職員 vs 社員 (Shain)

Learners use 'shokuin' for companies. 'Shain' is for companies, 'shokuin' is for institutions.

職員 vs 店員 (Ten-in)

Learners use 'shokuin' for shop staff. 'Ten-in' is specifically for retail/service staff.

職員 vs 諸君 (Shokun)

Similar sound, but 'shokun' means 'you all' or 'gentlemen' in a formal/old-fashioned way.

Expressões idiomáticas

"職員の鑑"

— A model staff member; an example for others to follow.

彼は仕事熱心で、まさに職員の鑑だ。

Formal
"職員の顔"

— The 'face' of the staff; the representative person.

彼女は受付におり、まさにこの施設の職員の顔だ。

Neutral
"職員の目"

— The eyes of the staff; being watched by staff.

職員の目が届かない場所でトラブルが起きた。

Neutral
"職員の士気"

— Staff morale.

給料が上がれば職員の士気も高まるだろう。

Formal
"職員の殻を破る"

— To break out of the 'staff' mold (to do more than just the job).

彼は職員の殻を破って、地域活動にも参加している。

Informal
"職員の手に負えない"

— Beyond the control of the staff.

その問題は職員の手に負えないほど大きくなった。

Neutral
"職員の声"

— The voice/opinion of the staff.

経営陣は職員の声に耳を傾けるべきだ。

Neutral
"職員の輪"

— The circle of staff; the community of workers.

新しく入った人も、すぐに職員の輪に馴染んだ。

Informal
"職員の座"

— The position of a staff member (often used regarding job security).

彼は不祥事で職員の座を追われた。

Formal
"職員の鏡"

— A mirror/reflection of the staff (similar to 'model staff').

彼の丁寧な対応は職員の鏡と言える。

Formal

Fácil de confundir

職員 vs 従業員 (Jūgyōin)

Both mean employee.

Jūgyōin is a broad, legal term for anyone employed. Shokuin is more for the 'role' in an institution.

全ての従業員にボーナスが出る。

職員 vs スタッフ (Sutaffu)

Both mean staff.

Sutaffu is casual/modern/creative. Shokuin is official/institutional.

イベントのスタッフが案内する。

職員 vs 公務員 (Kōmuin)

Most shokuin in government are kōmuin.

Kōmuin is the legal status (civil servant). Shokuin is the person working in the office.

公務員になりたい。

職員 vs 局員 (Kyokuin)

Both end in -in and mean staff.

Kyokuin is specifically for a 'Kyoku' (bureau), like a post office.

郵便局の局員。

職員 vs 役員 (Yakuin)

Similar sound.

Yakuin refers to board members or executives, not general staff.

会社の役員会議。

Padrões de frases

A1

[Place] no shokuin desu.

Gakkō no shokuin desu.

A2

Shokuin ni [Action].

Shokuin ni kikimashita.

B1

Shokuin toshite [Action].

Shokuin toshite hataraku.

B2

Shokuin no [Noun] ga [Adjective].

Shokuin no taigū ga warui.

C1

Shokuin ni yoru [Noun].

Shokuin ni yoru sabisu kōjō.

C2

[Noun] ni sokuō dekiru shokuin.

Henka ni sokuō dekiru shokuin.

Any

Shokuin-shitsu wa [Direction] desu.

Shokuin-shitsu wa asoko desu.

Any

Shokuin-kaigi ga arimasu.

Kyō wa shokuin-kaigi ga arimasu.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

職業 (Occupation)
職場 (Workplace)
職務 (Duties)
職人 (Artisan)

Verbos

就職する (To get a job)
退職する (To retire/quit)
職に就く (To take a post)

Adjetivos

職務的な (Business-like/Formal)

Relacionado

会員 (Member)
銀行員 (Bank clerk)
公務員 (Civil servant)
店員 (Shop assistant)
駅員 (Station staff)

Como usar

frequency

Extremely high in daily life, especially in public administration and education.

Erros comuns
  • Using 職員 for a company like Apple. 社員 (Shain)

    Apple is a private company, so its workers are 'shain'.

  • Using 職員 for a waiter. 店員 (Ten-in)

    Waiters work in shops/restaurants, so they are 'ten-in'.

  • Saying 職員にです (shokuin ni desu). 職員です (shokuin desu).

    You don't need 'ni' before 'desu' when stating a role.

  • Confusing 職員 (shokuin) with 諸君 (shokun). 職員 (shokuin)

    'Shokun' is a way to address a group, 'shokuin' is the noun for staff.

  • Thinking all 職員 are 公務員. N/A

    Staff at private schools or hospitals are 'shokuin' but not 'kōmuin' (civil servants).

Dicas

Context is King

Always check if the building is a business or a public service before choosing between 'shain' and 'shokuin'.

School Life

If you are in a Japanese school, the 'shokuin-shitsu' is the most important room. Learn this word first!

Counting

Use '-mei' when counting staff in a formal report to sound more professional.

Harmony

The word 'shokuin' often implies a team. Phrases like 'shokuin ichidō' (all staff) show this collective spirit.

Equal Syllables

Don't rush the 'ku'. It's sho-ku-in, three distinct beats.

Kanji Practice

The kanji for 'in' (員) is also in 'kaiin' (member). Master it once to use it in many words.

Announcements

In train stations, you might hear 'eki-in' (station staff), which is a specific type of 'shokuin'.

Job Titles

If you are a staff member, your email signature will often include 'shokuin' alongside your department name.

JLPT Tip

This word appears frequently in reading passages about society, schools, or public services.

Politeness

When talking to a staff member, 'shokuin-san' is friendly, but using their name + 'san' is better if you know it.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'Shoku' as 'Shock' and 'In' as 'In'. If you work as staff, you are 'Shocked' to be 'In' the office early!

Associação visual

Imagine a 'Shokuin-shitsu' (staff room) with many desks pushed together, a classic image in Japanese anime and drama.

Word Web

School Hospital City Hall Staff Room Official Employee Public Uniform

Desafio

Try to find the 'shokuin-shitsu' in every Japanese school-themed anime you watch this week.

Origem da palavra

The word is composed of two Sino-Japanese (Kango) roots. 'Shoku' (職) traces back to ancient Chinese administrative structures, and 'In' (員) originally referred to the number of people or members in a group.

Significado original: A person registered to a specific post or duty within an official system.

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Contexto cultural

Be careful not to call a high-ranking official just 'shokuin' to their face; use their specific title like 'Kachō' (Section Chief).

In English, 'staff' is often used for everyone. In Japan, you must distinguish between public (shokuin) and private (shain).

GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka) features many scenes in the shokuin-shitsu. The movie 'Shall We Dance?' features a protagonist who is a typical shain/shokuin figure. NHK news frequently reports on 'shokuin' wage changes.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

At a School

  • 職員室はどこですか?
  • 先生は職員室にいます。
  • 職員会議があります。
  • 教職員の皆さん。

At City Hall

  • 職員の方に聞きました。
  • 窓口の職員。
  • 職員の指示に従う。
  • 担当の職員。

At a Hospital

  • 病院の職員。
  • 職員専用の入り口。
  • 職員用の駐車場。
  • 夜勤の職員。

Job Hunting

  • 職員を募集しています。
  • 職員採用試験。
  • 正規職員になりたい。
  • 事務職員の求人。

Public Announcements

  • 職員の誘導に従ってください。
  • 職員以外立入禁止。
  • 職員が参ります。
  • 近くの職員にお声がけください。

Iniciadores de conversa

"職員室に一緒に行ってくれませんか? (Can you go to the staff room with me?)"

"あの職員の方、とても親切ですよね。 (That staff member is very kind, aren't they?)"

"将来、大学の職員になりたいと思っています。 (I want to become a university staff member in the future.)"

"職員会議って、いつも何時間くらいかかるんですか? (How many hours do staff meetings usually take?)"

"職員専用のカフェテリアって、一般の人も入れるんですか? (Can regular people enter the staff-only cafeteria?)"

Temas para diário

今日、市役所の職員と話しました。どんな話をしましたか? (Today I talked to a city hall staff member. What did we talk about?)

もし自分が学校の職員だったら、どんな仕事をしたいですか? (If you were a school staff member, what kind of work would you want to do?)

「職員」と「社員」の違いについて、自分の言葉で説明してください。 (Explain the difference between 'shokuin' and 'shain' in your own words.)

職員室の思い出について書いてください。 (Write about your memories of the staff room.)

職員不足の問題について、どう思いますか? (What do you think about the problem of staff shortages?)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, for a waiter or shop clerk, use 'ten-in' (店員). 'Shokuin' is for institutional or administrative staff.

Yes, teachers are considered 'shokuin' of the school. Specifically, they are often called 'kyō-shokuin' (teaching staff).

'Shain' is used for private company employees. 'Shokuin' is used for public offices, schools, and non-profits.

Yes, it is a neutral to formal word. To be more polite when referring to a person, say 'shokuin no kata'.

It is 'shokuin-shitsu' (職員室). This is where teachers and staff have their desks.

Yes, you can, but often just 'shokuin' is enough to imply a group. 'Shokuin-gata' is more formal.

It means 'staff ID card' or 'employee badge'.

Yes, hospital employees (nurses, clerks, etc.) are collectively called 'shokuin'.

A 'seishokuin' (正職員) is a full-time, permanent staff member, as opposed to a part-time one.

Police officers are 'keisatsukan', but the administrative staff in a police station are 'shokuin'.

Teste-se 200 perguntas

writing

Translate: 'I am a university staff member.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Please ask the staff.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Where is the staff room?'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'The city hall staff is kind.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'I want to become a school staff member.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'There was a staff meeting today.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'He was hired as an office staff member.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'We are suffering from a staff shortage.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Please show your staff ID.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'All the staff are waiting.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Staff training is important.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Improve the treatment of staff.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Staff diversity is necessary.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'The staff ethics are being questioned.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Cultivate staff who can adapt to change.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'No entry except for staff.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'The number of staff is decreasing.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'I consulted with the staff.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'A staff meeting was held.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
writing

Translate: 'Staff health management.'

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

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'I am a school staff member.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Where is the staff room?'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Please ask the staff.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'The staff are very kind.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'I want to be a staff member.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Is there a staff meeting today?'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'I work as an office staff member.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'We don't have enough staff.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'I forgot my staff ID.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'All the staff thank you.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'We need staff training.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'The staff morale is low.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'We should respect staff diversity.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Staff ethics are important.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'We support staff career development.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Follow the staff's instructions.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Ask the city hall staff.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Are you a staff member here?'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'Staff recruitment is open.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
speaking

Say: 'I am a regular staff member.'

Read this aloud:

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-shitsu wa asoko desu.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin ni kikimashita.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kare wa gakkō no shokuin desu.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-kaigi ga arimasu.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-shō o misete kudasai.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Jimu-shokuin o boshū shite iru.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-busoku de isogashii.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-kenkyū ni sanka suru.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin ichidō, kansha shimasu.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin no taigū o kaizen suru.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Sei-shokuin ni naritai.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-dantai to hanasu.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin no rinri.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Kyō-shokuin no menkyo.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
listening

Listen and identify the word: 'Shokuin-ryō ni sumu.'

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:
Correto! Quase. Resposta certa:

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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