Translation guide
A person hired to protect someone from physical harm. In Japanese, the most common word is ボディーガード, but native terms like 護衛 and 用心棒 are also used depending on context.
A person employed to protect a VIP, celebrity, or executive.
The most common and widely understood term, borrowed from English. Used in both formal and casual contexts.
He works as a bodyguard for a famous singer.
A formal term for a guard or escort, often used for security personnel protecting dignitaries or in official settings.
The president's bodyguards provided tight security.
Abbreviation for 'Security Police', used in Japan for close protection officers, especially for politicians. Common in news.
Security police are surrounding the prime minister.
A strong person hired for personal protection, often in informal or rough settings.
Originally a 'bodyguard' in historical contexts, now used for a hired guard or bouncer, often with a tough image. Common in fiction and casual speech.
He works as a bouncer at a club.
Also used for personal guards in less formal contexts, though 用心棒 may sound more native.
Referring to the occupation itself.
The most natural way to say 'work as a bodyguard'.
He works as a bodyguard.
A more formal way to refer to bodyguard work.
He is employed as a bodyguard.
ボディーガード is the default, neutral term. 用心棒 implies a tougher, sometimes informal guard (like a bouncer). 護衛 is formal and often used for official security details.
守衛 (しゅえい) means a security guard at a gate or building, not a personal bodyguard.
She hired a bodyguard to protect her from a stalker.