会社員

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 会社員(かいしゃいん) combines 会社, company, with 員, a member.
• Basic usage: It is used to introduce an occupation or describe other activities alongside company employment.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Occupation and membership
  • 会社員 names an occupational category, while 社員(しゃいん) can focus on membership in a particular company.
  • The English wording company employee avoids restricting the meaning to office duties.