作業

• Reading: さぎょう
• Romaji: sagyou
• Kanji breakdown: 作 (saku/sa) — make, create; 業 (gyō) — work, task, industry
• Pronunciation: /sa.ɡjoː/

Meaning

Work; task; operation. Manual or systematic work, especially physical labor or a specific procedure.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (作業する, to work on a task). Unlike 仕事 (shigoto, general work/job), 作業 implies a specific, often manual or procedural task. Common compounds: 作業員 (worker/laborer), 作業服 (work clothes), 作業中 (in progress). Used for construction, factory work, computer operations, and any hands-on task.

Examples

1. 工事の作業が朝から夕方まで続いている。 The construction work has been going on from morning till evening.
2. パソコンで資料を作る作業に三時間かかった。 It took three hours to work on creating the documents on the computer.
3. 危険な作業をするときは安全装備が必要だ。 Safety equipment is required when doing dangerous work.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, construction, computing

Tone: practical

Origin & History

Compound of 作 (saku, to make/create) and 業 (gyō, work/task). Together, 'work of making' — productive, hands-on activity.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal