Translation guide
The practice of cultivating land, raising crops, and/or livestock. In Japanese, the most common and general term is 農業 (のうぎょう), but other words are used depending on the scale, type, or context.
Referring to farming in a broad, general sense—the business or practice of cultivating land and raising livestock.
The standard, neutral term for agriculture or farming as an industry. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
彼は農業を営んでいます。
He runs a farm.
農業はこの地域の主要産業です。
Agriculture is the main industry in this region.
Refers specifically to cultivation and tillage, often with a slightly more technical or historical nuance. Less common in everyday speech.
農耕民族の歴史を研究しています。
I'm researching the history of agricultural peoples.
Refers to farming or crop production, but is somewhat dated or literary. Often appears in compound words.
今年は農作が豊かだ。
The crops are abundant this year.
Growing vegetables, fruits, or flowers on a small scale, often as a hobby or for self-sufficiency.
A home vegetable garden. Very common for hobby gardening.
週末は家庭菜園で野菜を作っています。
On weekends, I grow vegetables in my home garden.
A vegetable garden, slightly more general than 家庭菜園. Can refer to a small farm plot.
A natural phrase meaning 'to grow vegetables'. Often used instead of a noun for 'farming' in casual contexts.
田舎で野菜を作って暮らしたい。
I want to live in the countryside growing vegetables.
Specifically cultivating rice, which is central to Japanese agriculture.
Rice cultivation or rice farming. The standard term.
この地域は稲作が盛んです。
Rice farming is thriving in this region.
A more colloquial way to say 'grow rice'.
祖父は米を作っています。
My grandfather grows rice.
Raising animals for food or other products.
Livestock farming or animal husbandry. The standard term.
畜産農家は朝が早い。
Livestock farmers get up early.
Pastoral farming or stock farming, often implying grazing. Slightly more technical.
Farming focused on milk production.
Dairy farming. The standard term.
北海道は酪農が盛んです。
Dairy farming is thriving in Hokkaido.
Farming without synthetic chemicals.
Organic farming. The standard term.
有機農業に興味があります。
I'm interested in organic farming.
農業 is the most common and general word for farming/agriculture. 農耕 emphasizes cultivation and tillage, often used in historical or technical contexts. 農作 is less common and can sound literary or old-fashioned.
In casual conversation, Japanese often uses verb phrases like 野菜を作る (grow vegetables) or 米を作る (grow rice) instead of a noun like 'farming'. This can sound more natural than trying to find a direct noun equivalent.
裏庭に小さな菜園があります。
There's a small vegetable garden in the backyard.
牧畜が主な収入源です。
Livestock farming is the main source of income.
Organic cultivation, often used for crops specifically.
この野菜は有機栽培です。
These vegetables are organically grown.