平社員(ひらしゃいん)

ひらしゃいん
noun
rank-and-file employee, regular staff
businessbusinessperson
1. rank-and-file employee, regular staff member
An ordinary employee with no managerial title or special position. The lowest rank in a company hierarchy.
まだ平社員(ひらしゃいん)です。
I'm still a regular employee.
入社(にゅうしゃ)十年(じゅうねん)でまだ平社員(ひらしゃいん)だ。
He's been with the company for ten years and is still a regular employee.
平社員(ひらしゃいん)から部長(ぶちょう)まで昇進(しょうしん)した。
He was promoted from a regular employee all the way to department head.

平(ひら) (ordinary, flat) + 社員(しゃいん) (employee). Refers to a regular employee with no managerial title — the bottom rung of the corporate ladder.

Register

Often used with a self-deprecating or humble nuance. Saying まだ平社員(ひらしゃいん)です implies one hasn't been promoted yet.

Common patterns

  • 平社員(ひらしゃいん)から昇進(しょうしん)する: to be promoted from a regular employee
  • まだ平社員(ひらしゃいん): still just a regular employee
  • 平社員(ひらしゃいん)のまま: remaining a regular employee

JAPANESE CORPORATE HIERARCHY (bottom to top):

Related Words

Related: 社員(しゃいん) (employee)
Related: 昇進(しょうしん) (promotion)
general
Added 2026.3.14 13:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16500/16725_hirashain