着工する

• Reading: ちゃっこうする
• Romaji: chakkou suru
• Kanji breakdown: 着 (chaku/ki) — arrive, begin; 工 (kou/ku) — construction, work, craft
• Pronunciation: /t͡ɕak.koː.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To start construction; to break ground. To begin building or construction work on a project.

A suru-verb used specifically for the commencement of construction or building work. Formal in register and common in news reports, real estate, and civil engineering contexts. Often contrasted with 竣工 (shunkou, completion of construction) and 完成 (kansei, completion). The noun form 着工 can modify other nouns: 着工予定 (chakkou yotei, scheduled start of construction).

Examples

1. 新しい駅の建設が来月着工する予定だ。 Construction on the new station is scheduled to start next month.
2. マンションの工事は昨年着工して順調に進んでいる。 Construction on the apartment building broke ground last year and is progressing smoothly.
3. 許可が下りたのでようやく着工できることになった。 The permits came through, so we're finally able to break ground.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, real estate, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 着 (chaku, arrive/begin) + 工 (kou, construction/work). Literally 'arrive at construction' — the moment work begins on site.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal