25
現役

Actively Working


Meaning

Actively Working, Active

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

At the present time you're providing a service, so you're actively working. 現役 means you have a certain role (such as school teacher or a high school student, etc.) and you're still active in that role, as opposed to being retired or having graduated. This word is also often used to describe students who are taking or have passed a university entrance exam while they were still high school students.


Reading

げんえき

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. You learned the readings for both of these, but 役 uses a less common reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you remember this: You're actively working at the 駅 (えき) and you plan to remain active there forever! You sure do love that 駅, it's like you're inseparable.


Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 現役で頑張る

    to work hard while active

    現役でプレーする

    to actively play

    現役で入学する

    to enroll in university straight out of high school

  • 現役時代

    actively working generation

    現役合格

    passing a college entrance exam in the final year of high school

    現役選手

    an active player

    現役高校生

    still a high school student

  • 現役の作家

    an active writer

    現役のサラリーマン

    an active office worker

Context Sentences

お父さんは現役のプロレスラーです。

Dad's an active professional wrestler.

このマンガの作者は、現役高校生なんです。

The author of this manga is still a high school student.

現役で大学に入学しないで、一年間海外に行こうと思うんです。

I am thinking of going overseas for a year without enrolling in college straight out of high school.


Kanji Composition