働
働·work, labor
- On-yomi
- ドウ
- Kun-yomi
- はたらく
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 働く | はたらく | to work |
| 労働 | ろうどう | labor |
| 働き | はたらき | work, function |
| 共働き | ともばたらき | both spouses working |
Example sentences
母は病院で働いています。
はははびょういんではたらいています。
My mother works at a hospital.
この会社は労働時間が長すぎます。
このかいしゃはろうどうじかんがながすぎます。
The working hours at this company are too long.
この薬は頭痛によく働く。
このくすりはずつうによくはたらく。
This medicine works well on headaches.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 働 as ドウ outside 労働 — on its own it is almost always はたら(く)
- Confusing 働く (to work, of a person) with 仕事をする (to do a job)
Memory aid
Picture it
亻 (person) added to 動 (move) — a person who keeps moving is a person who works.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 働 mean?