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Japanese Versatility List

Work hours and time off

Core words, Stage 2chunk 49 of 80Work and school

Talk about your workday, overtime and days off.

Mix-ups Kyuukei (a short break), yuukyuu (paid leave) and renkyuu (days off in a row) all sound alike.

kyuukei

a break; rest

A short pause from work, study or a long drive; used with suru.

Yasumi is the wider word for time off or a day off. Kyuukei chuu = on a break.

casual

chotto kyuukei shiyou ka.

Shall we take a quick break?

ちょっと休憩しようか。

polite

chotto kyuukei shimashou ka.

Shall we take a short break?

ちょっと休憩しましょうか。

Written 休憩 · きゅうけいRank #1948 in 3,030 TV dramas

zangyou

overtime (work)

Staying late at work after normal hours; zangyou suru = to work overtime.

Saabisu zangyou = unpaid overtime.

casual

kyou mo zangyou de osoku naru.

I'll be home late again, working overtime.

今日も残業で遅くなる。

polite

kyou mo zangyou de osoku narimasu.

I'll be late again today because of overtime.

今日も残業で遅くなります。

Written 残業 · ざんぎょうRank #3602 in 3,030 TV dramas

tsuukin

commuting to work; the commute

Tsuugaku is commuting to school. Tsuukin suru = to commute; densha de tsuukin = commute by train.

casual

tsuukin ni ichijikan kakaru n da.

My commute takes an hour.

通勤に一時間かかるんだ。

polite

tsuukin ni ichijikan kakarimasu.

My commute takes an hour.

通勤に一時間かかります。

Written 通勤 · つうきんRank #10132 in 3,030 TV dramas

yuukyuu

paid leave; paid time off

Short for yuukyuu kyuuka; you 'take' it: yuukyuu o toru.

casual

raishuu, yuukyuu totte ryokou suru n da.

I'm taking paid leave next week to go on a trip.

来週、有給取って旅行するんだ。

polite

raishuu, yuukyuu o totte ryokou shimasu.

I'm taking paid leave next week for a trip.

来週、有給を取って旅行します。

Written 有給 · ゆうきゅうRank #13555 in 3,030 TV dramas

renkyuu

days off in a row; long weekend

Two or more days off in a row, especially around public holidays.

Sanrenkyuu = a three-day weekend. Golden Week in early May is the big one.

casual

kondo no renkyuu, doko ka iku?

Going anywhere over the long weekend?

今度の連休、どこか行く？

polite

kondo no renkyuu wa doko ka ikimasu ka?

Are you going anywhere over the long weekend?

今度の連休はどこか行きますか？

Written 連休 · れんきゅうRank #18634 in 3,030 TV dramas