How to Say ‘I was working as’ in Japanese
していました
shi te i mashi ta
[shee te ee mah-shee tah]
💬 Usage Tip: In Japanese you "do" a job: put the job, then を, then しています for now or していました for the past. For example, エンジニアをしています "I work as an engineer."
Phrase Breakdown
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
て
te
[te]
te-form ending
Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.
ドアが開いて、入ります。
The door opens, and then I go in.
い
i
[ee]
to be; ongoing state
Part of ている, which shows an ongoing condition or action.
最近疲れているようです。
It seems you have been tired lately.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
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