Translation and Meaning of: 働く - hataraku

Etimology of 「働く」

The word 「働く」 (hataraku) is defined as "to work" or "to function" in Japanese. Etymologically, the term is composed of the Kanji 「働」, which combines two components. The left side of the Kanji is the radical 「亻」, meaning "person," and the right part 「動」 means "to move." This combination reflects the idea of a person in activity, which aligns perfectly with the concept of work.

Definition and Context of Use

In the Japanese language, 「働く」 (hataraku) is widely used to describe work activities, whether they are physical or mental. It is often applied to refer to both formal employment and any form of laborious activity. Additionally, the word can be used to express the functionality of machines or systems, suggesting that something is "working" or "operating" effectively. This term is versatile and commonly used in the daily life of Japanese speakers.

History and Evolution

Historically, the introduction of Kanji in Japanese writing played a crucial role in the development of the language. 「働く」 evolved in the historical context of Japan, where society experienced significant transformations over the centuries, affecting the cultural perception of work. Initially connected to manual and operational activities, over time, the concept of work in 「働く」 expanded to incorporate various spheres, from industrial to intellectual roles. This evolution is reflected in the way the term is used in contemporary discussions about employment and careers in Japan.

Curiosities about "働く"

• The expression 「働き者」 (hataraki-mono) is used to describe a hardworking or diligent person, highlighting someone with a strong work ethic.
• In Japanese culture, work is a central part of the identity and daily life of many people, and 「働く」 is a word that captures this fundamental aspect.
• Japan is known for the concept of "Karōshi" (過労死), which means "death from overwork," highlighting the cultural impact of the term 「働く」 in discussions about health and work-life balance.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 労働する (Roudou suru) - Work, usually in the context of physical or hard labor.
• 勤める (Tsutomeru) - Working in a company or institution, emphasizing the position or role performed.
• 就労する (Shuurou suru) - Engage in work, often used in legal or formal contexts.
• 勤務する (Kinmu suru) - Perform functions or duties in a position, focusing on responsibility and work schedule.
• 仕事する (Shigoto suru) - Perform tasks or work; it can be used in informal contexts.
• 働きかける (Hatarakikakeru) - To influence or actively interact, not limiting oneself only to the work itself.

働く

Romaji: hataraku
Kana: はたらく
Type: Noun, Verb
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: work; job; do; act; commit oneself; practice; work; come into play; be conjugated; reduce the price

Meaning in English: to work;to labor;to do;to act;to commit;to practise;to work on;to come into play;to be conjugated;to reduce the price

Definition: work, perform work.

Example Sentences - (働く) hataraku

See below some example sentences:

私は週に2回パートで働いています。

Watashi wa shū ni nikai pāto de hataraite imasu

I work a part time job twice a week.

I work twice a week.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicates the subject of the sentence
• 週 (shuu) - means "week" in Japanese
• に (ni) - Japanese time particle, indicates when something happens
• 2 (ni) - number two in Japanese
• 回 (kai) - means "times" in Japanese and indicates the frequency of an action
• パート (paato) - borrowed from the English word "part-time", meaning part-time work
• で (de) - location particle in Japanese, indicates where something happens
• 働いています (hataraiteimasu) - polite form of the verb "to work" in Japanese, indicates the action being performed

私は兼業で働いています。

Watashi wa kengyō de hataraiteimasu

Eu trabalho em dois empregos.

Eu trabalho na parte parcial.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 兼業 (kengyo) - significa "trabalho parcial" ou "trabalho secundário" em japonês
• で (de) - partícula gramatical que indica o meio ou método utilizado
• 働いています (hataraiteimasu) - significa "estou trabalhando" em japonês

私は大使館で働いています。

Watashi wa taishikan de hataraiteimasu

I work in the embassy.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 大使館 - word that means "embassy" in Japanese
• で - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 働いています - verb that means "to work" in Japanese, conjugated in the present continuous