1.
working hours; work hours; hours of duty
The period of time during which an employee is required or expected to work. Used in both formal labor regulations and everyday workplace conversation to refer to one's scheduled work hours.
勤務時間は九時から五時までだ。
Working hours are from 9 to 5.
勤務時間中はスマホを使わないでください。
Please do not use your smartphone during working hours.
勤務時間の短縮が働き方改革の一環として進められている。
Reduction of working hours is being promoted as part of work-style reform.
Compound of 勤務 ('duty; service; work') and 時間 ('time; hours'). One of the most fundamental terms in Japanese workplace vocabulary. Japan's labor laws and the ongoing 働き方改革 ('work-style reform') initiative have made 勤務時間 a frequently discussed topic.
USAGE:
- 勤務時間外 ('outside working hours') and 勤務時間内 ('within working hours') are common modifiers.
- In Japan, the standard legal 勤務時間 is eight hours per day and forty hours per week.
- Often discussed alongside 残業 ('overtime') and 有給休暇 ('paid leave').
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 勤務時間を守る: to observe working hours
- 勤務時間の短縮: reduction of working hours
- 勤務時間外: outside working hours
- 勤務時間中: during working hours
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 労働時間: labor hours — a more formal and legal term, often used in labor law and statistics
- 就業時間: business hours — similar in meaning, sometimes used interchangeably; emphasizes the established schedule
- 営業時間: business hours — refers to the hours a store or office is open to customers, not employee work hours