〜員(いん)

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

Common patterns

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

COMPOUNDS (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)

COMPOUNDS (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)

COMPOUNDS (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."