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How to Say ‘Work must be busy.’ in Japanese

仕事、忙しいでしょう。

shigoto isogashii deshou

[shee-goh-toh ee-soh-gah-shee deh-SHOH]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking about work this way shows concern for you. A modest reply that also says you're coping fine is expected.

Phrase Breakdown

仕事、

shigoto

work,

仕事 (shigoto) means 'work' or 'job.' In casual speech the particle is dropped, and you pause briefly instead.

Example

仕事、楽しいですか。

Is work fun?

Words in this phrase

仕事

shigoto

[shee-goh-toh]

work; job

Refers to work, occupation, or a job role; common in business and career conversations.

Example

今は営業の仕事をしています。

Right now I work in sales.

忙しいでしょう。

isogashii deshou

must be busy, right?

忙しい (isogashii) means 'busy.' でしょう means 'probably' or 'right?' and shows you are guessing. Hold the long 'ou' at the end.

Example

毎日忙しいでしょう。

You must be busy every day, right?

Words in this phrase

忙しい

isogashii

[ee-soh-gah-shee]

busy

I-adjective meaning “busy.” Often used about schedules/work (仕事が忙しい).

Example

今週は忙しいです。

I’m busy this week.

でしょう

deshou

[deh-SHOH]

must be; I suppose

Here it expresses a guess seeking agreement: 'you must be...'.

Example

疲れたでしょう。

You must be tired.

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