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:

畜産は日本の重要な産業の一つです。

Chikusan wa Nihon no juuyou na sangyou no hitotsu desu

Livestock is one of Japan's important industries.

Cattle is one of Japan's important industries.

• 畜産 - animal production
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な - important
• 産業 - industry
• の - Possession particle
• 一つ - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
• です - Ser/estar (linking verb)

爆破は危険な作業です。

Bakuha wa kiken na sagyou desu

Demolition is dangerous work.

Bombing is a dangerous task.

• 爆破 - explosion
• は - Topic particle
• 危険 - danger
• な - adjective in attribute form
• 作業 - work, operation
• です - verb to be in the polite form

漁業は日本の重要な産業の一つです。

Gyogyo wa Nihon no juuyou na sangyou no hitotsu desu

Fishing is one of the important industries in Japan.

Fishing is one of the important industries in Japan.

• 漁業 - fishing
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な - important
• 産業 - industry
• の - Possession particle
• 一つ - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
• です - is

栽培は農業の重要な要素です。

Saibai wa nōgyō no jūyōna yōso desu

Cultivation is an important element in agriculture.

Cultivation is an important factor in agriculture.

• 栽培 - cultivation
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 農業 - agriculture
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 重要な - Important
• 要素 - Element
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

授業が始まります。

Jugyou ga hajimarimasu

Class is starting.

Beginning of classes.

• 授業 - class
• が - subject particle
• 始まります - starts

手順を守って作業してください。

Tejun wo mamotte sagyou shite kudasai

Please follow the instructions and do the job.

Follow the procedure and work.

• 手順 - procedure
• を - object particle
• 守って - follow
• 作業 - work
• して - doing
• ください - Please

工業は日本の経済にとって重要な役割を果たしています。

Kōgyō wa Nihon no keizai ni totte jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Industry plays an important role in the economy of Japan.

Industry plays an important role in the Japanese economy.

• 工業 (kougyou) - industry
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 日本 (nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 経済 (keizai) - economy
• にとって (nitotte) - for
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - paper
• を果たしています (wo hatashiteimasu) - performs

実業家はビジネスの世界で成功するために必要なスキルを持っています。

Jitsugyōka wa bijinesu no sekai de seikō suru tame ni hitsuyō na sukiru o motte imasu

An entrepreneur possesses the necessary skills to succeed in the business world.

Entrepreneurs have the necessary skills to succeed in the business world.

• 実業家 - entrepreneur
• は - Topic particle
• ビジネス - business
• の - Possession particle
• 世界 - world
• で - Location particle
• 成功する - succeed
• ために - for
• 必要な - necessary
• スキル - skills
• を - direct object particle
• 持っています - to possess

商業は経済の重要な分野です。

Shōgyō wa keizai no jūyōna bun'ya desu

Trade is an important sector of the economy.

Commercial is an important field of economics.

• 商業 - trade
• は - Topic particle
• 経済 - economy
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な - important
• 分野 - Field, area
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

作物は農業の基本的な要素です。

Sakumotsu wa nōgyō no kihonteki na yōso desu

Crops are basic elements of agriculture.

Crops are the basic elements of agriculture.

• 作物 - cultivation
• は - Topic particle
• 農業 - agriculture
• の - Possessive particle
• 基本的 - Basic
• な - adjectival suffix
• 要素 - Element
• です - Verb to be/estar