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仕事仲間
shigoto nakama
work colleague
彼は仕事仲間の一人です。
He is one of my work colleagues.
informal
A person with whom one works; a colleague or coworker.
新しい仕事仲間とすぐに打ち解けました。
I quickly opened up to my new work colleagues.
仕事仲間とランチを食べに行きました。
I went out to lunch with my work colleagues.
Used for both professional and casual work relationships. More common in spoken Japanese than formal contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use 仕事仲間 vs. 同僚
Use 仕事仲間 when you want to emphasize a friendly or personal connection with coworkers, especially in casual conversations. Use 同僚 in formal contexts or when referring to coworkers in a strictly professional capacity.
Gold Rule
Avoid overusing in formal writing
In formal documents or emails, prefer 同僚 (dōryō) or 同僚社員 (dōryō shain) to maintain professional tone.
Word Origin
Composed of 仕事 (shigoto, 'work') and 仲間 (nakama, 'companion' or 'associate'). The term emphasizes the social bond formed through shared work, rather than just professional status.
Usage Notes
Unlike '同僚' (dōryō, colleague), which is more formal and emphasizes professional relationship, 仕事仲間 implies a closer, more personal connection formed through shared work experiences. It is commonly used in both business and casual settings.
Word Breakdown
仕事
work
noun仲間
companion, associate
noun和英辞典