Word Detail

The Japanese word 時給 (じきゅう) means "hourly wage" or "pay per hour." It refers to the amount of money an employee is paid for each hour they work. It's a common term used in discussions about employment, wages, and part-time jobs. It indicates the rate of pay and is a fundamental aspect of understanding how much someone will earn from their job.

⚫︎アルバイトの時給は1000円です。 Translation: The hourly wage for the part-time job is 1000 yen. ⚫︎時給が上がって嬉しいです。 Translation: I'm happy that my hourly wage increased. ⚫︎この仕事の時給はいくらですか？ Translation: What is the hourly wage for this job?

You use 時給 when talking about the amount of money paid per hour of work. It is particularly used when discussing: ⚫︎Part-time jobs (アルバイト) ⚫︎Full-time employment (though sometimes monthly or annual salaries are used for full-time work, 時給 can still apply if hourly rates are calculated) ⚫︎Negotiating wages ⚫︎Comparing job offers ⚫︎Calculating total earnings based on hours worked

時給 is typically written with the kanji 時 (ji - time, hour) and 給 (kyuu - pay, salary, supply). The reading is じきゅう (jikyuu) in hiragana. There is no other common way to write this word, and the okurigana is standard.

There aren't direct synonyms for 時給 that convey the same specific meaning. However, related terms include: ⚫︎給料 (kyuuryou) - salary, wages (this is a more general term that could include hourly, monthly, or annual pay) ⚫︎賃金 (chingin) - wages, pay (another general term for earnings)

There aren't direct antonyms for 時給. However, words related to not being paid or having reduced pay could be considered opposites in a sense: ⚫︎無給 (mukyuu) - unpaid ⚫︎減給 (genkyuu) - salary reduction

新しいアルバイトは時給1200円で、交通費も支給されます。 ・Translation: The new part-time job is 1200 yen per hour, and transportation expenses are also provided. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the hourly wage for a new part-time job and also mentions additional benefits (transportation expenses).

彼女は時給が高い仕事を探しています。 ・Translation: She is looking for a job with a high hourly wage. ・Explanation: This sentence indicates that the person is prioritizing the hourly rate when searching for employment.

The word 時給 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 時 (ji), which means "time" or "hour," and 給 (kyuu), which means "pay" or "salary." Therefore, the literal meaning is "hourly pay" or "pay per hour."