会社

• Reading: かいしゃ
• Romaji: kaisha
• Kanji breakdown: 会 (kai) — meeting, association; 社 (sha) — company, society
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.ɕa/

Meaning

Company; corporation; firm. A business organization where people work.

A fundamental noun in daily Japanese life. 会社 refers to a company or corporation. The word 会社員 (kaishain) means company employee and is one of the most common job descriptions in Japan. Japanese corporate culture values loyalty, teamwork, and long-term employment.

Examples

1. 父は毎朝八時に会社へ行きます。 My father goes to the company at eight every morning.
2. 来年大きい会社で働きたいです。 I want to work at a big company next year.
3. 会社は駅から歩いて五分です。 The company is a five-minute walk from the station.

Usage Guide

Context: work, commuting, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A Sino-Japanese compound. 会 means meeting or association, and 社 means company or shrine. Originally used in the Meiji era to translate the Western concept of a corporation.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal