職業（しょくぎょう、shokugiょu）
- occupation

The Japanese word 職業 （しょくぎょう） means "occupation," "profession," or "job." It refers to the kind of work a person does, especially a regular and recognized kind of work, often implying a career or a long-term field of employment. It can also describe a person's role or position within the workforce.

⚫︎私の職業は教師です。 Translation: My occupation is a teacher. ⚫︎彼女の職業》は医者です。 Translation: Her profession is a doctor. ⚫︎あなたはどんな職業》に興味がありますか？ Translation: What kind of job are you interested in?

You can use 職業 in various situations: ⚫︎When asking someone about their job. ⚫︎When stating your own job. ⚫︎When talking about someone's career path. ⚫︎In formal and informal settings.

⚫︎The word is typically written with the kanji 職業, read しょくぎょう. ⚫︎It is also sometimes written using hiragana.

⚫︎仕事（しごと） - "work," "job" (more general). ⚫︎職（しょく）- "employment," "position" (often used in compounds). ⚫︎職種（しょくしゅ）- "type of work," "job category." ⚫︎業種（ぎょうしゅ）- "industry," "type of business."

There aren't direct antonyms, but you could consider concepts like: ⚫︎無職（むしょく）- "unemployed," "jobless." ⚫︎退職（たいしょく）- "retirement."

あなたの職業は何ですか？ ・Translation: What is your occupation? ・Explanation: This is a common question to ask when you meet someone for the first time or when you want to know what someone does for a living.

彼は長年、職業としてエンジニアをしています。 ・Translation: He has been an engineer as a profession for many years. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes that he is an engineer as a career.

The word 職業 is a compound word. 職（しょく） means "occupation," "duty," or "post," and 業（ぎょう） means "business," "industry," or "work." Combining these creates the meaning of a recognized and established form of work or occupation.