What does 働 mean in Japanese?
働 means to work or labor, and its key word is the verb 働く (hataraku), to work at a job.
働 is generally described as a kokuji, a kanji created in Japan. Its shape combines the person radical 亻 with 動 (move), which gives a handy memory aid: a person moving is a person working.
Reading
On’yomi: ドウ (dou)
Kun’yomi: はたら-く (hatara-ku)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 働 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | work, labor |
| Stroke Count | 13 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
働く is the neutral verb for working at a job or doing labor: 銀行で働く means to work at a bank. It can also describe something functioning, as in 頭がよく働く (one’s mind works well). Compared with 仕事 (a noun for work or a job), 働く is the action of working.
Common Words
- 働く（はたらく / hataraku） — to work
- 働き者（はたらきもの / hatarakimono） — hard worker
- 働き方（はたらきかた / hatarakikata） — way of working, work style
- 共働き（ともばたらき / tomobataraki） — both partners working
- 労働（ろうどう / roudou） — labor, work
- 労働者（ろうどうしゃ / roudousha） — worker, laborer
Example Sentences
-
兄は病院で働いています。
あにはびょういんではたらいています。 / Ani wa byouin de hataraite imasu.
My older brother works at a hospital.
-
母は朝から夜まで働きました。
はははあさからよるまではたらきました。 / Haha wa asa kara yoru made hatarakimashita.
My mother worked from morning until night.
-
私の両親は共働きです。
わたしのりょうしんはともばたらきです。 / Watashi no ryoushin wa tomobataraki desu.
Both of my parents work.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
働く is a godan verb: 働きます, 働かない, 働いて. Use the particle で for the workplace, as in 会社で働く. Do not confuse 働 with 動 (move); 働 has the extra person radical 亻 on the left. The on’yomi ドウ appears mainly in 労働 and related formal words.
Summary
働 means to work, and 働く (hataraku) is the essential verb for talking about jobs and working life.
Want to study more JLPT N4 kanji by theme? See our JLPT N4 Kanji Study List.