〜員(いん)

いん
suffix
member of, staff of
1. member of, staff of
A suffix indicating membership or employment in an organization.
店員(てんいん)に聞(き)く。
To ask the shop staff.
会社員(かいしゃいん)として毎日(まいにち)忙(いそが)しく働(はたら)いている。
I'm working busily every day as a company employee.
公務員(こうむいん)になるには試験(しけん)に合格(ごうかく)しなければならないので、早(はや)くから準備(じゅんび)を始(はじ)めた。
You have to pass an exam to become a civil servant, so I started preparing early.

〜員(いん) is a suffix indicating a person who belongs to or works for an organization.

PATTERN:
[organization/place] + 員(いん) = member/staff of that organization

WORKPLACE EMPLOYEES:

  • 会社員(かいしゃいん): company employee
  • 銀行員(ぎんこういん): bank employee
  • 店員(てんいん): shop clerk
  • 駅員(えきいん): station staff
  • 乗務員(じょうむいん): crew member (train, plane)

ORGANIZATION MEMBERS:

  • 会員(かいいん): member (of a club, organization)
  • 委員(いいん): committee member
  • 議員(ぎいん): legislator, council member
  • 部員(ぶいん): club member (school clubs)

OTHER ROLES:

  • 公務員(こうむいん): civil servant
  • 審判員(しんぱんいん): referee, judge
  • 従業員(じゅうぎょういん): employee (general term)

The kanji 員(いん) originally means "member" or "number of people."

general
Added 2026.1.9 21:44 · Revised 2026.2.21 12:45
01500/01994_in