共働き

• Reading: ともばたらき
• Romaji: tomobataraki
• Kanji breakdown: 共 (tomo/kyō) — together, mutual, shared; 働 (dō/hatara) — work, labour
• Pronunciation: /to.mo.ba.ta.ɾa.ki/

Meaning

Both spouses working; dual income. The most common term for a two-income household.

A noun describing a household where both partners are employed. The most widely used term for dual-income couples, more common than the synonym 共稼ぎ (tomokasegi) in everyday conversation. Frequently appears in media discussions about work-life balance, childcare, and modern family structures — 共働き世帯 (dual-income household), 共働きで子育て (raising children while both working). Functions as a no-adjective before nouns.

Examples

1. 共働きなので子供は保育園に預けている。 Since we're both working, our child goes to daycare.
2. 共働き世帯の数が年々増加している。 The number of dual-income households is increasing year by year.
3. 共働きだと家事を分担する必要がある。 When both partners work, it's necessary to split the housework.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social policy, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From native Japanese: 共 (tomo, together/mutual) + 働き (hataraki, working), the noun form of 働く (hataraku, to work). The compound directly expresses working together, emphasising the labour aspect rather than earnings.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal