What does “hataraku” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “hataraku” to mean ‘to work’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “hataraku” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “hataraku”
- Hatarakanai: the nai form of “hataraku”
- Hatarakou: the volitional form of “hataraku”
- Hatarakimasu: the masu form of “hataraku”
- Hataraita: the ta form of “hataraku”
- Hataraite: the te form of “hataraku”
- Hatarakeba: the ba form of “hataraku”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “hataraku”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “hataraku”.
- hataraku – 働く (はたらく) : a verb meaning ‘to work’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are very simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “work” in Japanese
watashi tachi wa mainichi hataraku – 私達は毎日働く (わたしたちはまいにちはたらく)
We work every day.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.
- mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : an adverb meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “hataraku”. When we want to mean ‘to work’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “hataraku” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “hatarakanai”.
Hatarakanai: the nai form of “hataraku”
Below are the definition and meaning of “hatarakanai”.
- hatarakanai – 働かない (はたらかない) : the nai form of “hataraku”, which means ‘not to work’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “hatarakanai” consists of the following two parts:
- hataraka – 働か (はたらか) : one conjugation of “hataraku”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “hatarakanai” is literally the nai form of “hataraku” and means ‘not to work’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t work” in Japanese
boku wa hatarakanai – 僕は働かない (ぼくははたらかない)
I don’t work.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
This is a typical usage of “hatarakanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to work’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Hatarakou: the volitional form of “hataraku”
Below are the definition and meaning of “hatarakou”.
- hatarakou – 働こう (はたらこう) : the volitional form of “hataraku”, which expresses volition to work.
Grammatically, “hatarakou” consists of the following two parts:
- hatarako – 働こ (はたらこ) : one conjugation of “hataraku”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “hatarakou” is literally the volitional form of “hataraku” and expresses volition to work. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s work” in Japanese
issho ni hatarakou – 一緒に働こう (いっしょにはたらこう)
Let’s work together!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used with “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “hatarakou”. In the example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s work” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Hatarakimasu: the masu form of “hataraku”
Below are the definition and meaning of “hatarakimasu”.
- hatarakimasu – 働きます (はたらきます) : the masu form of “hataraku”, which means ‘to work’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “hatarakimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- hataraki – 働き (はたらき) : one conjugation of “hataraku”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “hatarakimasu” is literally the masu form of “hataraku” and means ‘to work’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “work” politely in Japanese
karera wa mainichi kaisha de hatarakimasu – 彼等は毎日会社で働きます (かれらはまいにちかいしゃではたらきます)
They work at the company every day.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- karera – 彼等 (かれら) : a pronoun meaning ‘they’ in Japanese.
- kaisha – 会社 (かいしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘company’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kaisha” to say where “karera” work every day.
This is a typical usage of “hatarakimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “work” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Hataraita: the ta form of “hataraku”
Below are the definition and meaning of “hataraita”.
- hataraita – 働いた (はたらいた) : the ta form of “hataraku”, which means ‘worked’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “hataraita” consists of the following two parts:
- hatarai – 働い (はたらい) : one conjugation of “hataraku”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “hataraita” is literally the ta form of “hataraku” and means ‘worked’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “worked” in Japanese
boku wa kanojo to hataraita – 僕は彼女と働いた (ぼくはかのじょとはたらいた)
I worked with her.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to say with whom the speaker worked.
This is a typical usage of “hataraita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “hataraku”, this ta form is the best option.
Hataraite: the te form of “hataraku”
Below are the definition and meaning of “hataraite”.
- hataraite – 働いて (はたらいて) : the te form of “hataraku”, which means ‘to work’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “hataraite” consists of the following two parts:
- hatarai – 働い (はたらい) : one conjugation of “hataraku”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “hataraite” is literally the te form of “hataraku”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “hataraite” is very useful when we want to use “hataraku” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please work” in Japanese
mainichi hataraite kudasai – 毎日働いてください (まいにちはたらいてください)
Please work every day.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “hataraite” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “hataraite”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “hataraku” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Hatarakeba: the ba form of “hataraku”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “hatarakeba”.
- hatarakeba – 働けば (はたらけば) : the ba form of “hataraku”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to work’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “hatarakeba” consists of the following two parts:
- hatarake – 働け (はたらけ) : one conjugation of “hataraku”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “hatarakeba” is literally the ba form of “hataraku”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “hatarakeba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to work’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if work” in Japanese
hatarakeba, kimi mo okane wo kasegeru – 働けば、君もお金を稼げる (はたらけば、きみもおかねをかせげる)
If you work, you can make money, too.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kimi – 君 (きみ) : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
- mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “kimi” to make the subject in the second clause with adding the meaning of ‘too’.
- okane – お金 (おかね) : a noun meaning ‘money’ in Japanese.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “okane” to make the object in the second clause.
- kasegeru – 稼げる (かせげる) : a verb meaning ‘to earn’, ‘to make (money)’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “hatarakeba”. In this example, it works as the conditional clause which means ‘if you work’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to work’, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “hataraku” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- hataraku – 働く (はたらく) : a verb meaning ‘to work’ in Japanese.
- hatarakanai – 働かない (はたらかない) : the nai form of “hataraku”, which means ‘not to work’ in Japanese.
- hatarakou – 働こう (はたらこう) : the volitional form of “hataraku”, which expresses volition to work.
- hatarakimasu – 働きます (はたらきます) : the masu form of “hataraku”, which means ‘to work’ politely in Japanese.
- hataraita – 働いた (はたらいた) : the ta form of “hataraku”, which means ‘worked’ in Japanese.
- hataraite – 働いて (はたらいて) : the te form of “hataraku”, which means ‘to work’ in Japanese. When we want to use “hataraku” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- hatarakeba – 働けば (はたらけば) : the ba form of “hataraku”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to work’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.