Translation and Meaning of: 業 - gou

The Japanese word 業[ごう] carries deep meanings and cultural connections that go beyond its literal translation. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is used in the daily life of Japan. Whether you are learning Japanese or simply curious about the language, understanding 業[ごう] can open doors to a better understanding of Japanese expressions and philosophies. Here at Suki Nihongo, we aim to provide accurate and useful information for students and enthusiasts.

Meaning and origin of 業[ごう]

業[ごう] is a term that comes from Buddhism and refers to the concept of "karma" or "actions that generate consequences." In modern Japanese, it retains this idea of cause and effect, but it can also be used in broader contexts, such as profession (職業) or work (業務). The kanji writing, 業, is composed of elements that refer to "work" and "accumulated actions," reinforcing its original meaning.

Although it is an ancient word, 業[ごう] still frequently appears in everyday expressions and formal texts. Its pronunciation, "gou", is simple, but its meaning varies depending on the context. For example, in phrases like "自業自得" (jigou jitoku), which means "you reap what you sow", the idea of karma becomes evident.

Cultural and philosophical use

In Japan, 業[ごう] is not just a common vocabulary word, but a concept rooted in the collective mindset. Many proverbs and popular expressions use this idea to convey moral teachings. Buddhist philosophy, in particular, has strongly influenced the way Japanese people view actions and their consequences throughout life.

Additionally, the word appears in discussions about ethics and personal responsibility. In animes and dramas, for example, characters often talk about "業が深い" (gou ga fukai), which can be translated as "having heavy karma." This usage reinforces how the term is present even in pop culture.

Tips for memorizing and using 業[ごう]

An effective way to fix 業[ごう] is to associate it with the kanji 業, which also appears in words like 授業 (class) and 工業 (industry). Noticing these patterns helps to expand vocabulary. Another tip is to create simple sentences, such as "自分の業は自分で背負う" (carry your own karma), to practice using it in real contexts.

It's worth noting that, although 業[ごう] has a serious tone in many cases, it is not a rare or difficult word. Understanding its nuances allows you to use it in both everyday conversations and more formal texts. If you are studying Japanese, try jotting down usage examples to review later.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 仕事 (shigoto) - Work, job.
• 事業 (jigyō) - Enterprise, business.
• 職業 (shokugyō) - Profession, occupation.
• 産業 (sangyō) - Industry, economic sector.
• 経営 (keiei) - Management, business administration.
• 企業 (kigyō) - Company, corporation.
• 作業 (sagyō) - Production work, task.
• 手業 (tewaza) - Manual skill, dexterity.
• 能業 (nōgyō) - Profession that requires specific skills or talent.
• 修業 (shugyō) - Training in a profession or art, dedicated learning.
• 習業 (shūgyō) - Apartment of skills, academic learning.
• 芸業 (geigyō) - Arts industry, artistic performance.
• 営業 (eigyō) - Sale, commercial operation.
• 商業 (shōgyō) - Trade, commercial activity.
• 工業 (kōgyō) - Indústria manufatureira.
• 農業 (nōgyō) - Agriculture, agricultural activity.
• 林業 (ringyō) - Forest industry, forest management.
• 漁業 (gyogyō) - Fishing, fishing activity.
• 鉱業 (kōgyō) - Mining industry.
• 建設業 (kensetsugyō) - Construction industry.
• 不動産業 (fudōsan-gyō) - Real estate, business related to properties.
• 金融業 (kin'yūgyō) - Financial sector, financial services.
• 保険業 (hoken-gyō) - Insurance sector.
• 運輸業 (un'yūgyō) - Transport, transportation industry.
• 通信業 (tsūshingyō) - Communications, telecommunications sector.
• サービス業 (sābisu-gyō) - Service industry.
• 教育業 (kyōikugyō) - Education, educational sector.
• 医療業 (iryōgyō) - Health, healthcare sector.
• 福祉業 (fukushigyō) - Social services, social assistance.

業

Romaji: gou
Kana: ごう
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: Buddhist karma; actions committed in a previous life

Meaning in English: Buddhist karma;actions committed in a former life

Definition: To do the job.

Example Sentences - (業) gou

See below some example sentences:

家畜は農業にとって重要な存在です。

Kachiku wa nōgyō ni totte jūyōna sonzai desu

Cattle is an important thing for agriculture.

• 家畜 - farm animals
• は - Topic particle
• 農業 - agriculture
• にとって - for
• 重要な - important
• 存在 - existence
• です - is

従業員は会社の財産です。

jūgyōin wa kaisha no zaisan desu

Employees are owned by the company.

• 従業員 - employee
• は - Topic particle
• 会社 - company
• の - Possession particle
• 財産 - Propriedade
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

民間企業は経済の発展に重要な役割を果たしています。

Minkan kigyou wa keizai no hatten ni juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu

Private companies play an important role in the development of the economy.

• 民間企業 - Private companies
• は - Topic particle
• 経済 - economy
• の - Possession particle
• 発展 - development
• に - target particle
• 重要 - important
• な - adjective particle
• 役割 - role/function
• を - direct object particle
• 果たしています - perform (verb)

私は兼業で働いています。

Watashi wa kengyō de hataraiteimasu

I work on two jobs.

I work at the partial part.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 兼業 (kengyo) - It means "part-time work" or "secondary work" in Japanese.
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the means or method used
• 働いています (hataraiteimasu) - means "I am working" in Japanese

私の職業は翻訳者です。

Watashi no shokugyou wa honyakusha desu

My profession is translator

My profession is a translator.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle indicating possession, equivalent to "my"
• 職業 - noun meaning "profession"
• は - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "is"
• 翻訳者 - noun meaning "translator"
• です - verb of being, equivalent to "am"

経営は企業の成功に欠かせない要素です。

Keiei wa kigyou no seikou ni kakasenai youso desu

Management is an indispensable factor in corporate success.

• 経営 - management
• は - Topic particle
• 企業 - company
• の - Possession particle
• 成功 - success
• に - target particle
• 欠かせない - indispensable
• 要素 - element
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

造船は日本の重要な産業の一つです。

Zōsen wa Nihon no jūyōna sangyō no hitotsu desu

Naval construction is one of Japan's important industries.

• 造船 - Shipbuilding
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 重要な - Important
• 産業 - Industry
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 一つ - I’m sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
• です - Verb to be in the polite form