会社員

• Reading: かいしゃいん
• Romaji: kaishain
• Kanji breakdown: 会 (kai) — meet, gather; 社 (sha) — company, society; 員 (in) — member, person
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.ɕa.iɴ/

Meaning

Company employee; office worker. A person employed by a company.

One of the most common job titles used in self-introductions. It covers any salaried employee at a company, from entry-level to management. In Japanese society, identifying as a 会社員 carries social significance, as company affiliation is a core part of identity.

Examples

1. 父は会社員です。 My father is a company employee.
2. 会社員は毎朝電車に乗ります。 Office workers ride the train every morning.
3. 兄は去年から会社員になりました。 My older brother became a company employee last year.

Usage Guide

Context: self-introduction, workplace, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 会社 (kaisha, 'company') and 員 (in, 'member/person'). Literally means 'company member' — a person who belongs to a company.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Middle class