秘書
hisho[çi̥ɕo̞]
The English word 'secretary' can be translated into Japanese as 秘書 (hisho) or 書記.
Meaning: person keeping records and handling clerical work (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 秘書 | hisho | [çi̥ɕo̞] (narrow) |
| 書記 | shoki | [ɕo̞kʲi] (narrow) |
The term is used to describe a person who handles clerical work and keeps records, but the specific Japanese word depends on whether you are referring to a personal assistant or an official recorder.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 秘書 is composed of the characters for 'secret/private' (秘) and 'secretary/scribe' (書).
Which one should you use?
秘書 (hisho) refers to a personal secretary or an assistant who supports a specific individual. In contrast, 書記 (shoki) refers to a clerk or secretary who handles official records and minutes for an organization, such as a secretary of a committee.
How do you pronounce it?
hisho
Did you know?
- The word 書記 is used in the titles of high-ranking Communist Party officials, such as 'General Secretary' (書記長), mirroring the political terminology of the Soviet Union.
- A 秘書 is expected to master keigo, the complex system of honorific speech, to speak on behalf of their boss to other high-status individuals.
- In Japanese corporate culture, a 秘書 often manages the 'schedule' (yotei) of their boss with absolute authority, acting more as a gatekeeper than a clerical worker.
Examples in context
- 秘書が必要だ。I need a secretary.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for a secretary using 秘書.Tatoeba #8720696 by small_snow, translation #3022572 by sharptoothed
- 彼は社長の個人秘書だ。He is the boss's private secretary.This sentence is useful for describing a role as a personal secretary using 秘書.Tatoeba #2283790 by bunbuku, translation #299010 by CK
- ジェーンは社長秘書です。Jane is the president's secretary.This sentence is useful for stating a job title as a president's secretary using 秘書.Tatoeba #216444 by bunbuku, translation #53748 by CN
- 彼女は会社の事務員です。She is a company secretary.
- 彼は大臣の秘書です。He is the minister's secretary.
- 会社の秘書さんと昼食に行きました。I went to lunch with the company secretary.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking about their boss's schedule.
- 大翔 Hiroto秘書さんに予定を確認して。Hisho-san ni yotei o kakunin shite.Please check the schedule with the secretary.
- 陽葵 Himariもうメールを送りましたよ。Mō mēru o okurimashita yo.I already sent an email.
- 大翔 Hiroto返事はいつ来るかな。Henji wa itsu kuru kana.I wonder when the reply will come.
- 陽葵 Himari秘書さんならすぐ返してくれます。Hisho-san nara sugu kaeshite kuremasu.The secretary usually replies quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “secretary” translations and entries 秘書, 書記, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
