Since moving to Japan, it seems like the first thing people ask me after being introduced is 「どんな仕事をしているんですか?」 … or some variation thereof. (Romaji: donna shigoto wo shite irun desu ka? What do you do for a living?)
I don’t know if it’s because I’m a foreigner or not, but it never fails. If you spend any amount of time in Japan, I bet you will experience the exact same thing.
So here is how to answer:
The easiest, most common way to answer is to simply say:
__(your profession)__ です (desu).
Here is a list of common professions that I thought of off the top of my head:
- Office worker (this could be lots of things… pretty much any typical desk job.) : かいしゃいん (kaishain)
- Teacher : せんせい (sensei)
- Doctor: いしゃ (isha)
- Soldier: ぐんじん (gunjin)
- House wife: しゅふ (shufu)
- Consultant: コンサルタント (konsarutanto)
- Engineer: エンジニア (enjinia)
If I didn’t list your profession here, head over to Jisho.org and look it up! If you want help learning and remembering more Japanese words, try Speekit!
Hope this helps.
Best,
Aaron
Thank you for the tips!
I just have one comment – it came up in my Japanese class that it might be seen as a little arrogant to call yourself sensei – that it sounds better to use the more neutral きょうし (kyoushi). Probably the distinction won’t matter from a foreigner, but hey.
Thank you so much for this advice and for the Link. You have set my mind at ease and have helped lately more than you know in preparation of a trip to Japan next week!! So glad to have stumbled upon your and Kevin’s many contributions!! Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Brion
Hello there,
Great job! Thanks for your helpfull information.
Living in Japan is a great experience, so exiting and a challenge at the same time!
When you used to it, you feel like you are in a special place where the brain- the mind- body and the spirit find them self in a perfect balance. As I use engish in the unniversity my japanese is progressing a littel bit and I promise to work more.
So you are a great inspiration for me and I find your advices great how to progress in Japanese. Thnx a lot!
Yes, Sajo-san is correct. You don’t say “sensei” to refer to yourself. You say “kyoushi” ^_^
So Im a nurse what would i say?
@Jack, nurse would be 看護士 (kangoshi)
nurse also kangofu
@jack kangofu desu
im here in hokkaido japan as a kensyusei meaning as a trainee