Looking up...
一般社員
ippan shain
regular employee
一般社員でも重要なプロジェクトに参加できるチャンスがあります。
Even regular employees have opportunities to participate in important projects.
formal
An employee who is not in a managerial or executive position; a standard company employee.
一般社員から始めて、数年で部長になった人もいます。
Some people start as regular employees and become department managers in a few years.
Used in contrast to 役員 (executive officer), 管理職 (managerial position), or 役職者 (person in a position of authority).
Pro Tip
Avoid literal translation pitfalls
Do not translate 一般社員 as 'ordinary employee' or 'common employee' in professional contexts, as these may sound dismissive. 'Regular employee' is the most neutral and accurate term.
Gold Rule
Context matters
In job descriptions or resumes, 一般社員 may be used to emphasize experience in a non-leadership role. In interviews, clarify whether the term is used neutrally or to indicate limited growth potential.
Word Origin
Composed of 一般 (general, ordinary) + 社員 (employee, company member). The term emerged in modern corporate contexts to distinguish non-managerial staff from executives.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in business contexts, especially in Japanese companies. It does not imply low status but simply denotes a non-executive role. In some companies, the term may carry a slightly negative connotation, implying lack of advancement.
Word Breakdown
一般
general, ordinary, common
prefix社員
employee, company member
noun和英辞典