How to say “colleague” in Japanese | 同僚 (どうりょう、dōryō)

The Japanese vocabulary「同僚 (どうりょう、dōryō)」means “colleague.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese Vocabulary and the Meaning

Key Word同僚
Hiraganaどうりょう
Romaji Readingdōryō
English Meaningcolleague

The Correct Japanese Pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

Our YouTube channel: Ichiyo’s Japanese YouTube Channel

The Example Japanese Sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

I’ve been working on a project with a colleague.

Plain Form:

同僚どうりょう一緒いっしょにプロジェクトをすすめている。
Dōryō to issho ni purojekuto o susumete iru.

Polite Form:

同僚と一緒にプロジェクトを進めています。
Dōryō to issho ni purojekuto o susumete imasu.


I went to lunch with a colleague yesterday.

Plain Form:

昨日きのう同僚どうりょうとランチにった。
Kinō wa dōryō to ranchi ni itta.

Polite Form:

昨日は同僚とランチに行きました。
Kinō wa dōryō to ranchi ni ikimashita.


I’m going to go on a business trip with a colleague.

Plain Form:

同僚どうりょう一緒いっしょ出張しゅっちょうく。
Dōryō to issho ni shutchō ni iku.

Polite Form:

同僚と一緒に出張に行きます。
Dōryō to issho ni shutchō ni ikimasu.


I heard that my colleague is thinking about job change.

Plain Form:

同僚どうりょう転職てんしょくかんがえているそうだ。
Dōryō ga tenshoku o kangaete iru sō da.

Polite Form:

同僚が転職を考えているそうです。
Dōryō ga tenshoku o kangaete iru sō desu.


I asked my colleague for advice and got some helpful suggestions.

Plain Form:

同僚どうりょう相談そうだんしたら、いいアドバイスをもらった。
Dōryō ni sōdan shitara, ī adobaisu o moratta.

Polite Form:

同僚に相談したら、いいアドバイスをもらいました。
Dōryō ni sōdan shitara, ī adobaisu o moraimashita.


Since my colleague has the day off, today is a bit busy.

Plain Form:

同僚どうりょうやすみなので今日きょうすこいそがしい。
Dōryō ga yasumi nanode kyō wa sukoshi isogashī.

Polite Form:

同僚が休みなので今日は少し忙しいです。
Dōryō ga yasumi nanode kyō wa sukoshi isogashī desu.


My colleague is changing jobs so we are throwing a farewell party.

Plain Form:

同僚どうりょう転職てんしょくするので送別会そうべつかいひらく。
Dōryō ga tenshoku suru node sōbetsu-kai o hiraku.

Polite Form:

同僚が転職するので送別会を開きます。
Dōryō ga tenshoku suru node sōbetsu-kai o hirakimasu.

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