仕事中です
shigotochū desu
In Japanese, "I am at work" is expressed as 仕事中です (shigotochū desu).
This phrase is used to state that you are currently performing your job duties. It is often used as a status update or a reason why one cannot talk on the phone or meet immediately.
Which one should you use?
For shift-based work or more formal professional settings, 勤務中です can be used instead of 仕事中です.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal settings, you can use 仕事中だよ or 仕事中だ. For a formal context, you can use 現在、勤務中です。 When speaking to a client or a superior, using the humble form 仕事しております is more appropriate than 仕事中です.
How does it change in a sentence?
Replacing the polite です with the plain form だ makes the statement informal or suitable for close friends.
How do you pronounce it?
shigotochū desu
Did you know?
- While 仕事中 describes the state of working, Japanese has a specific word 社畜 (shachiku), meaning 'company livestock', to describe people who are perpetually 'at work' due to extreme corporate devotion.
- In Japanese business culture, saying 仕事中です might be implied by a 'busy' status on communication apps, but the concept of 空気を読む (kūki o yomu) or 'reading the air' means colleagues often know you are working without you saying it.
- In Japanese, the word 中 (chū) in 仕事中です does not mean 'inside' a building, but rather 'in the middle of' an action or state.
Examples in context
- ごめん、今ちょっと仕事中だよ。Sorry, I am a bit busy with work right now.
- 今は仕事中です。Ima wa shigotochuu desu.I am at work right now.
- すみません、仕事中です。Sumimasen, shigotochuu desu.Sorry, I am at work.
- 今はまだ仕事中です。Ima wa mada shigotochuu desu.I am still at work right now.
Example conversation
Kenta answers a phone call from Himari during the day.
- 陽葵 Himari健太、今電話できる？Kenta, ima denwa dekiru?Kenta, can you talk on the phone now?
- 健太 Kentaごめん、今は仕事中です。Gomen, ima wa shigoto-chū desu.Sorry, I am at work right now.
- 陽葵 Himariあ、ごめん！後でかけ直すね。A, gomen! Ato de kake-naosu ne.Oh, sorry! I'll call you back later.
- 健太 Kentaうん、お願い。また後でね。Un, onegai. Mata ato de ne.Yeah, please. See you later.
