時々働く
sometimes work
حرفيًا: 時々 (sometimes) + 働く (work)
Use this to describe a flexible, part-time, or irregular work schedule in casual conversation.
في 15 ثانية
- Describes working occasionally rather than a fixed full-time schedule.
- Combines 'tokidoki' (sometimes) with 'hataraku' (to work).
- Perfect for freelancers, students, or people with side hustles.
المعنى
This phrase describes working on an occasional or irregular basis rather than having a full-time, everyday schedule. It is the perfect way to explain a flexible lifestyle or a side hustle.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Explaining your lifestyle to a new friend
今はフリーランスなので、時々働く感じです。
I'm a freelancer now, so I kind of work sometimes.
A retiree talking about their post-retirement life
引退しましたが、近所の店で時々働いています。
I retired, but I work sometimes at a local shop.
Talking to a teacher about your busy schedule
週末は時々働きますが、勉強の時間はあります。
I sometimes work on weekends, but I have time to study.
خلفية ثقافية
This phrase reflects the growing 'Freeter' and 'GIG economy' culture in Japan. While traditional society valued 24/7 dedication, younger generations use this to describe a life focused on hobbies or travel. It highlights a shift from collective company identity to individual time management.
Positioning is Key
You can put '時々' at the very start of the sentence for extra emphasis on the 'sometimes' part.
The 'Lazy' Trap
Be careful using this with older Japanese people; they might interpret it as lack of ambition due to traditional work ethics.
في 15 ثانية
- Describes working occasionally rather than a fixed full-time schedule.
- Combines 'tokidoki' (sometimes) with 'hataraku' (to work).
- Perfect for freelancers, students, or people with side hustles.
What It Means
Imagine you have a job that doesn't require a suit. You don't go into an office every single morning. Instead, you pick up shifts when you want. Or maybe you are a freelancer with a few projects. That is exactly what 時々働く describes. It is about frequency, not intensity. It tells people that work is a part of your life, but not your whole life. It is the ultimate phrase for the modern, flexible worker.
How To Use It
Using this phrase is very straightforward. You simply place the adverb 時々 before the verb 働く. In Japanese, adverbs are quite flexible with their position. However, putting it right before the verb is the most natural way. If you are talking to a boss, use 時々働きます. If you are chatting with a friend over ramen, 時々働く is perfect. You can also change the tense. Use 時々働いた to talk about a past gig.
When To Use It
This phrase is great for social situations. When someone asks, "What do you do these days?" this is a safe answer. It works well if you are a student with a part-time job. It is also common for retirees who stay active with odd jobs. Use it when you want to emphasize your freedom. It sounds relaxed and honest. It is also useful when explaining a complex freelance schedule to your parents.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this phrase during a serious job interview. If you say 時々働く, the recruiter might think you are lazy. They want to hear that you will work hard every day. Also, avoid using it if you actually have a full-time job. It might sound like you are complaining about your attendance. It refers to the schedule, not how hard you try. Don't use it for hobbies either. Hobbies use different verbs like する or 遊ぶ.
Cultural Background
Japan was once famous for the "Salaryman" culture. People worked at one company for their entire lives. They worked long hours every single day. But things are changing now. The rise of "Freeters" (people who work part-time) changed the language. More people value their personal time over a corporate ladder. 時々働く reflects this shift toward a work-life balance. It is no longer shameful to not work every day.
Common Variations
If you want to sound a bit more formal, say 時々仕事をします. This uses the noun for "work" instead of the verb. If you work even less frequently, use たまに働く. たまに means "once in a while." For a very casual vibe, you might say ちょこちょこ働いている. This implies you are doing small bits of work here and there. It sounds a bit more playful and busy.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase is neutral in formality. It is most commonly used in social settings to describe one's lifestyle or current employment status without sounding overly stiff.
Positioning is Key
You can put '時々' at the very start of the sentence for extra emphasis on the 'sometimes' part.
The 'Lazy' Trap
Be careful using this with older Japanese people; they might interpret it as lack of ambition due to traditional work ethics.
The Freeter Connection
This phrase is often associated with 'Arubaito' (part-time work). It rarely refers to a corporate career.
أمثلة
6今はフリーランスなので、時々働く感じです。
I'm a freelancer now, so I kind of work sometimes.
The addition of 'kanji' makes it sound more soft and conversational.
引退しましたが、近所の店で時々働いています。
I retired, but I work sometimes at a local shop.
Shows that the person is staying active without full commitment.
週末は時々働きますが、勉強の時間はあります。
I sometimes work on weekends, but I have time to study.
Uses the polite form 'hatarakimasu' for a teacher.
今週は時々働くから、火曜日なら空いてるよ！
I'm only working sometimes this week, so I'm free on Tuesday!
Casual and direct for messaging.
うちの猫も、ネズミを捕まえるために時々働くよ。
My cat also works sometimes to catch mice.
Personifies the pet for a humorous effect.
宝くじが当たったら、時々働く生活がしたいな。
If I win the lottery, I want a life where I only work sometimes.
Expresses a common dream of escaping the rat race.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence to say 'I sometimes work at a cafe.'
カフェで ___ 働きます。
'時々' (tokidoki) means sometimes, which fits the context of an occasional job.
Choose the correct verb form for a casual conversation.
最近は忙しくないから、時々 ___ 。
'働く' is the dictionary form, which is used in casual speech with friends.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Working Sometimes'
Talking to friends or family.
時々働くよ。
Standard polite conversation.
時々働きます。
Business or respectful context.
時折、業務に従事しております。
When to use 時々働く
Freelancing
Managing multiple clients.
Retirement
Staying active in the community.
Student Life
Balancing school and a part-time job.
Side Hustle
Working on weekends for extra cash.
الأسئلة الشائعة
12 أسئلةIt means 'sometimes.' It suggests a frequency of about 30% to 50% of the time.
Not really. If you work 40 hours a week, use 毎日働く (work every day) instead.
No, you can also use 仕事をする. 働く focuses more on the physical or mental labor itself.
Change the verb to the 'masu' form: 時々働きます (Tokidoki hatarakimasu).
It is neutral. It is safe to use in almost any conversation, from casual to business-polite.
たまに is less frequent than 時々. Use たまに for things that happen only once in a while.
No, this phrase only refers to the schedule frequency, not the effort level.
Yes! If a printer only works occasionally, you can say このプリンターは時々働く.
Use the past tense: 時々働いた or politely 時々働きました.
Not exactly, but people might say ちょこっと働く to mean working just a tiny bit.
No, it implies you have work, just not on a standard, daily schedule.
Yes, if you say 彼は時々しか働かない, it means 'He only works sometimes' (implying he is lazy).
عبارات ذات صلة
たまに働く
To work once in a while (less frequent than tokidoki).
アルバイトをする
To do a part-time job.
副業をする
To do a side hustle or second job.
毎日働く
To work every day.
不定期に働く
To work on an irregular basis.
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