工業

• Reading: こうぎょう
• Romaji: kougyou
• Kanji breakdown: 工 (kō/ku) — craft, construction, work; 業 (gyō/gō) — business, industry
• Pronunciation: /koː.gjoː/

Meaning

Manufacturing industry; industrial production. The sector of the economy that produces goods in factories.

A Sino-Japanese compound used in academic, economic, and geographic contexts. Common in compounds like 工業地帯 (kougyou chitai, industrial zone), 重工業 (juukougyou, heavy industry), and 工業高校 (kougyou koukou, technical high school). Japan is known for its strong manufacturing sector, making this a frequently encountered word.

Examples

1. この地域は工業がとても盛んです。 Manufacturing is very thriving in this area.
2. 日本の工業は世界的に有名です。 Japan's manufacturing industry is world-famous.
3. 工業についてレポートを書いています。 I'm writing a report about manufacturing.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, geography, education, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound of 工 (kou, craft/construction) and 業 (gyou, business/industry). Literally 'the craft business' or 'manufacturing trade.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal