社会と仕事の漢字 (N4 Kanji Part 2: Society & Work)
Learning Objectives
- Learn kanji related to school, education, and study.
- Understand kanji used for society, business, and work.
- Recognize kanji for expressing emotions and thoughts.
- Practice reading kanji combinations in professional and academic contexts.
In the previous chapter, we covered kanji for everyday life and the human body. As you transition into N4, you will increasingly encounter Japanese in academic, professional, and social environments. This chapter focuses on kanji related to school, business, society, and understanding others’ minds and feelings. Let’s build your professional vocabulary!
1. School & Education (学校と教育)
Education is highly valued in Japanese culture, and the vocabulary surrounding it is precise.
キョウ
おし・える、おそ・わる
- 教える【おしえる】to teach
- 教室【きょうしつ】classroom
- 教育【きょういく】education
シツ
むろ
- 教室【きょうしつ】classroom
- 和室【わしつ】Japanese-style room
シュウ
なら・う
- 習う【ならう】to learn (from someone)
- 学習【がくしゅう】learning, study
- 復習【ふくしゅう】review
ベン
つと・める
- 勉強【べんきょう】study
- 勤勉【きんべん】diligent
田中先生は日本語を教えています。
Tanaka-sensei wa nihongo o oshiete imasu.
Professor Tanaka teaches Japanese.
昨日の夜、漢字を復習しました。
kinou no yoru, kanji o fukushuu shimashita.
Last night, I reviewed kanji.
この教室で英語を勉強します。
kono kyoushitsu de eigo o benkyou shimasu.
I study English in this classroom.
2. Business & Society (仕事と社会)
When working in Japan or dealing with companies, these are some of the most essential kanji.
ギョウ、ゴウ
わざ
- 授業【じゅぎょう】class/lesson
- 産業【さんぎょう】industry
- 営業【えいぎょう】business, sales
ドウ
はたら・く
- 働く【はたらく】to work
- 労働【ろうどう】labor
シャ
やしろ
- 会社【かいしゃ】company
- 社会【しゃかい】society
- 社長【しゃちょう】company president
イン
-
- 会社員【かいしゃいん】office worker
- 店員【てんいん】shop assistant
- 社員【しゃいん】company employee
[!NOTE] The kanji 働 (to work) is a “kokuji” (国字), which means it was invented in Japan, not imported from Chinese like most kanji. It consists of the radical for person (亻) next to move (動)—literally “a person moving/acting.”
| Word | Romaji | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会社員 | kaishain | Company employee | Noun |
| 社長 | shachou | Company president | Noun |
| 営業 | eigyou | Sales, business operations | Noun |
| 授業 | jugyou | Class, lesson | Noun |
| 社会 | shakai | Society | Noun |
私は日本の会社で働いています。
watashi wa nihon no kaisha de hataraite imasu.
I work at a Japanese company.
スーパーの店員はとても親切でした。
suupaa no ten'in wa totemo shinsetsu deshita.
The supermarket employee was very kind.
今日の授業は三時に終わります。
kyou no jugyou wa san-ji ni owarimasu.
Today's class ends at 3 o'clock.
3. Feeling and Thinking (感情と思考)
To understand motives and emotions, you need kanji dealing with the mind and heart.
シン
こころ
- 心【こころ】heart, mind
- 安心【あんしん】relief, peace of mind
- 心配【しんぱい】worry
シ
おも・う
- 思う【おもう】to think, to feel
- 思い出す【おもいだす】to remember, recall
コウ
かんが・える
- 考える【かんがえる】to think over, consider
- 考え【かんがえ】idea, thought
キュウ
いそ・ぐ
- 急ぐ【いそぐ】to hurry
- 急行【きゅうこう】express (train)
- 急に【きゅうに】suddenly
[!TIP] Notice that 心, 思, and 急 all contain the “heart” radical (心). The heart radical usually signifies that the kanji relates to emotions, mental activities, or feelings.
明日は雨が降ると思います。
ashita wa ame ga furu to omoimasu.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
よく考えてから、答えてください。
yoku kangaete kara, kotaete kudasai.
Please answer after thinking carefully.
急がないと、電車に間に合いません。
isoganai to, densha ni maniaimasen.
If you don't hurry, you won't be in time for the train.
Contextual Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used naturally in a daily conversation.
鈴木さん、卒業した後、何をしようと考えていますか。
Suzuki-san, sotsugyou shita ato, nani o shiyou to kangaete imasu ka.
Suzuki, after graduating, what do you plan to do?
ITの会社で働きたいと思っています。
Aitī no kaisha de hatarakitai to omotte imasu.
I think I want to work at an IT company.
いいですね。今、プログラミングを勉強していますか。
Ii desu ne. Ima, puroguramingu o benkyou shite imasu ka.
That's nice. Are you studying programming now?
はい、先生に習っています。毎日復習していますよ。
Hai, sensei ni naratte imasu. Mainichi fukushuu shite imasu yo.
Yes, I am learning from a teacher. I review every single day.
とても勤勉ですね。立派な会社員になるから、安心してください。
Totemo kinben desu ne. Rippana kaishain ni naru kara, anshin shite kudasai.
You are very diligent. You will become a great employee, rest assured.
Chapter Summary
- 1教, 室, 習, and 勉 form words for schooling, like 教室 (classroom) and 勉強 (study).
- 2業, 働, 社, and 員 describe working life. Combine 会社 (company) + 員 (member) for 会社員 (employee).
- 3心 (heart), 思 (think), and 考 (consider) involve internal mental processing.
- 4Japanese uses different words for 'thinking': 思う (to feel/think naturally) vs. 考える (to ponder/consider logically).
Knowledge Check
Quiz
Which verb means 'to teach'?