Lesson L1N2N2 Kanji in Context⏱ 25 min

Society and Work Kanji

Learn 6 society and work kanji: 経済政治制度企業責任. Read in formal passages and news-style sentences.

🎯 Goal: To accurately read, write, and contextualize key N2-level kanji associated with society, employment, and business operations, enabling students to comprehend authentic texts like newspaper editorials, job descriptions, and corporate communications with confidence.

Introduction

Welcome to the "Society and Work Kanji" module, designed specifically for upper-intermediate learners targeting the JLPT N2 level. As you transition from everyday Japanese to professional and academic spheres, mastering kanji related to employment, societal structures, and the economy becomes essential. This lesson focuses on high-frequency characters and compound words (熟語) commonly found in news broadcasts, business correspondence, and job application materials. By understanding the nuances of terms related to labor, corporate organization, and social systems, you will significantly enhance your reading comprehension and professional communication skills, paving the way for success in Japanese-speaking workplaces.

Lesson Content

Master Class: N2 Kanji for Society and Work (社会と仕事)

Navigating professional Japanese society requires more than conversational fluency; it demands a precise command of kanji related to employment, labor, and business operations. At the JLPT N2 level, kanji shift from everyday physical actions to abstract, institutional concepts.

This guide focuses on four high-frequency, high-yield kanji essential for business contexts, news broadcasts, and reading comprehension.

1. 職 (Employment, Job, Office)

On'yomi: ショク (shoku)
Radical: 耳 (mimi - ear)
Meaning Hint: Historically related to listening to duties and recording them. Think of "hearing" your professional calling.

Vocabulary	Furigana	English Meaning
転職	てんしょく	Career change
職場	しょくば	Workplace
職業	しょくぎょう	Occupation / Profession

Contextual Example:

キャリアアップのために転職を決意し、新しい職場を探している。
Kyaria appu no tame ni tenshoku o ketsui shi, atarashii shokuba o sagashite iru.
Translation: I have decided to change careers to advance my professional growth and am currently looking for a new workplace.

2. 雇 (Employ, Hire)

On'yomi: コ (ko)
Kun'yomi: やと・う (yato-u)
Radical: 隹 (furutori - bird) under 戸 (to - door)
Meaning Hint: Imagine domesticating a bird (隹) inside a house (戸)—bringing someone under your roof to work.

Vocabulary	Furigana	English Meaning
雇用	こよう	Employment / Hiring
解雇	かいこ	Dismissal / Firing
雇主	やといぬし	Employer

Contextual Example:

景気の悪化により、多くの企業が雇用を抑制し、一部では解雇も行われている。
Keiki no akka ni yori, ōku no kigyō ga koyō o yokusei shi, ichibu de wa kaiko mo okonawarete iru.
Translation: Due to the economic downturn, many companies are curbing hiring, and in some sectors, layoffs (dismissals) are taking place.

3. 営 (Manage, Run a business, Conduct)

On'yomi: エイ (ei)
Kun'yomi: いとな・む (itona-mu)
Radical: ⺍ (crown) over 宮 (dwelling)
Meaning Hint: Building and managing multiple rooms under one roof; organizing activities.

Vocabulary	Furigana	English Meaning
営業	えいぎょう	Business operations / Sales
運営	うんえい	Management / Administration
営む	いとなむ	To run (a business) / Lead (a life)

Contextual Example:

祖父は長年、地元で小さな文房具店を営んでいる。
Sofu wa naganen, jimoto de chiisana bunbōguten o itonalte iru.
Translation: My grandfather has been running a small stationery store in our hometown for many years.

4. 労 (Labor, Toil, Trouble)

On'yomi: ロウ (rō)
Kun'yomi: ねぎら・う (negira-u - to thank for labor)
Radical: 力 (chikara - power/strength)
Meaning Hint: Expending physical strength (力) under burning lamps (represented by the top components) late into the night.

Vocabulary	Furigana	English Meaning
労働	ろうどう	Manual labor / Work
疲労	ひろう	Fatigue / Exhaustion
苦労	くろう	Hardships / Troubles

Contextual Example:

適切な休養を取らなければ、慢性的な疲労蓄積により労働効率が低下する。
Tekisetsu na kyūyō o toranakeleba, manseiteki na hirō chikuseki ni yori rōdō kōritsu ga teika suru.
Translation: If you do not take adequate rest, work efficiency will drop due to the accumulation of chronic fatigue.

💡 Nuance Corner: "To Work"

At the N2 level, you must distinguish between different verbs for "working":

働く (はたらく - hataraku): General physical or mental labor.
- Example: 工場で働く (To work at a factory).
勤める (つとめる - tsutomeru): To be employed by an organization; focuses on affiliation. Takes the particle に.
- Example: 銀行に勤める (To be employed by a bank).
営む (いとなむ - itonamu): To run, operate, or manage a business yourself. Takes the particle を.
- Example: レストランを営む (To run a restaurant).