Translation guide
A general strike is a mass work stoppage by workers across multiple industries, typically to achieve political or economic goals. In Japanese, the most common term is ゼネラル・ストライキ or its abbreviation ゼネスト. The native term 総罷業 is formal and less common in everyday speech.
To refer to a coordinated strike involving workers from various sectors, often for broad political or economic demands.
The most common and widely understood term, borrowed from English. Used in news and everyday conversation.
労働組合がゼネラル・ストライキを計画している。
The labor union is planning a general strike.
Common abbreviation of ゼネラル・ストライキ. Very frequent in spoken and written Japanese.
Formal native Japanese term. Often used in legal or historical contexts. Less common in daily speech.
In everyday conversation or news, ゼネスト is the default. Use 総罷業 only in formal writing or historical discussions. ゼネラル・ストライキ is also fine but slightly longer.
労働者たちはゼネストを呼びかけた。
The workers called for a general strike.
明日、全国でゼネストが行われる。
A general strike will be held nationwide tomorrow.
1920年代に総罷業が頻発した。
General strikes occurred frequently in the 1920s.
Even more formal and historical term. Rarely used in modern contexts except in academic or historical writing.
総同盟罷業は労働運動の頂点だった。
The general strike was the peak of the labor movement.