Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 見習い | minarai | [mʲina̠ɾa̠i] (narrow) | |
| 実習生 | jisshūsei | [d͡ʑiɕːɨːse̞ː] (narrow) | |
| 徒弟 | totei | [to̞te̞ː] (narrow) | historical |
見習い is the most common and natural way to describe someone in a learning position in modern Japanese settings, such as a restaurant or a workshop. It refers to a trainee, especially in a skilled trade.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 見習い is composed of the verb 見習う, meaning 'to learn by watching' or 'to imitate' and the noun-forming suffix '-い'.
Which one should you use?
見習い is a general term for an apprentice or someone learning a trade. In contrast, 実習生 specifically refers to a practical trainee or intern, often within a formal educational or technical program. 徒弟 is a formal, historical term for an apprentice, often used in the context of traditional guild-style systems.
How does it change in a sentence?
見習い can function as both a noun (an apprentice) and a noun-modifying form (an apprentice [worker/student]).
How do you pronounce it?
minarai
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese arts, a 徒弟 apprentice might spend years performing menial tasks like cleaning and preparing tools before ever being taught the actual craft. This period of 'discipline' is considered an essential part of the apprenticeship.
- In traditional Japanese arts like tea ceremony or martial arts, an apprentice might be called 弟子 (deshi) instead of the more general 見習い, implying a much deeper, lifelong master-disciple bond.
- The character 生 in 実習生 is used for many types of students, but it also shares a root with the word for 'life' or 'raw'. This suggests a state of being 'unprocessed' or in a stage of growth.
Examples in context
- 私は見習いです。I'm an apprentice.This sentence is useful for stating your role as a 見習い.Tatoeba #10714091 by small_snow, translation #2247921 by CK
- 彼は陶芸の見習いです。Kare wa tougei no minarai desu.He is an apprentice potter.
- 見習いとして働き始めました。Minarai to shite hataraki hajimemashita.I started working as an apprentice.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about Ren's new job at a traditional craft shop.
- 結衣 Yui新しい仕事はどうですか？Atarashii shigoto wa dō desu ka?How is your new job?
- 蓮 Ren今は見習いで、掃除ばかりしています。Ima wa minarai de, sōji bakari shite imasu.I'm an apprentice right now, so I do nothing but cleaning.
- 結衣 Yui修行は大変そうですね。Shugyō wa taihen sō desu ne.The training seems tough.
- 蓮 Renはい、でも楽しみです。Hai, demo tanoshimi desu.Yes, but I'm looking forward to it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apprentice” translations and entries 見習い, 実習生, 徒弟, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
