JLPT N3・N5 Vocabulary – Difference between “働く” and “勤める”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “働はたらく” and “勤つとめる”
2. 働はたらく
3. 勤つとめる
4. Summary
5. Quiz
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment

Q: Do “働はたらく” and “勤つとめる” have the same meaning?

A: These two words may sometimes be used in similar ways, but in reality, they have different meanings.

働はたらく (JLPT N5)

The primary meaning of this word is “to work and earn money (to make a living).” It refers to simply doing a job there, regardless of whether you have a specific position or not. The particle used is “で” (company + で).

[Examples]
父ちちは30年ねん、エンジニアとして働はたらきました。
My father worked as an engineer for 30 years.
⇒ It means that the focus is on making a living as an engineer rather than holding the position of an engineer.

日本にほんの会社かいしゃで働はたらいています。
I work at a Japanese company.
⇒ It indicates making a living in a place like a Japanese company, without mentioning specific positions.

Additionally, it also means “to work and earn money by physically engaging in work,” so “働はたらく” is used when referring to tasks related to working in a company.

[Examples]
今日きょうはいっぱい働はたらいて疲つかれたな。　
I worked a lot today and I’m exhausted.

働はたらくことは大変たいへんです。
Working is tough.

勤つとめる (JLPT N3)

This term has a deeper meaning than “働はたらく,” indicating “holding a position or title at a company and being engaged in work within that role.”
The particle used is “に” (company + に). Note that “で” cannot be used in this context.

[Examples]
母ははは25年ねん、銀行ぎんこう員いんとして勤つとめました。
My mother worked as a banker for 25 years.
⇒ It means being engaged in work as a bank employee.

山田やまださんの息子むすこは有名ゆうめいな企業きぎょうに勤つとめている。
Mr.Yamada’s son works for a well-known company.
⇒It means being engaged in work at a well-known company.

[お勤つとめ]

“勤つとめる” is often used as the noun “勤つとめ.”
When showing respect for someone’s work, “お勤つとめ” is more polite than “お仕事しごと.”

[Examples]
お勤つとめ、ご苦労くろう様さまです。
Thank you for your hard work.
⇒ It has the same meaning as “お仕事しごと、ご苦労くろう様ようです。”(Thank you for your work).

お勤つとめ先さきはどちらですか。
Where do you work?
⇒ It has the same meaning as “会社かいしゃはどちらですか。”(Which company do you work for?).

If you don’t use “お,” it can also be used to refer to the company the speaker works for.

[Example]　
勤め先つと　さきはYCA株式かぶしき会社かいしゃです。
The place I work at is YCA Co., Ltd.

Summary

働はたらく

• It doesn’t matter whether you have a position or not, “働はたらく” means to work and earn money (make a living).
• It also means “to work physically to earn money,” and is used for work related to a company.
• The particle “で” is used with this term.

勤つとめる

• It means to have a position or role within a company and be engaged in work there.
• The particle “に” is used with this term.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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