キャリア
きゃりあ
noun
career; (phone) carrier
1.
career, professional experience
One's professional history, work experience, or career path.
キャリアを積む。
To build a career.
彼女は長いキャリアを持つベテランだ。
She is a veteran with a long career.
結婚してもキャリアを続けたいと思っている。
I want to continue my career even after getting married.
2.
carrier, mobile phone provider
A telecommunications company that provides mobile phone service.
どのキャリアを使っていますか。
Which carrier are you using?
大手キャリアから格安SIMに乗り換えた。
I switched from a major carrier to a budget SIM.
キャリアによって通信エリアが違うので確認したほうがいい。
Coverage areas differ by carrier, so you should check.
キャリア is a loanword from English, combining two distinct English words: "career" and "carrier."
SENSE 1 — CAREER:
Very common in discussions of work and professional development.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- キャリアを積む: to build a career
- キャリアアップ: career advancement
- キャリア形成: career development
- キャリアウーマン: career woman (somewhat dated)
- キャリア官僚: fast-track government bureaucrat (passed elite civil service exam)
SENSE 2 — PHONE CARRIER:
Refers to the major mobile carriers in Japan, such as ドコモ, au, and ソフトバンク. Often called 大手キャリア (major carriers) in contrast to 格安SIM providers.