Translation guide
Describes someone who works diligently and puts in a lot of effort. Japanese has several common expressions, ranging from straightforward adjectives to idiomatic phrases.
To describe someone who consistently works hard and is diligent.
A straightforward and polite way to say 'hardworking person'. '勤勉' means diligent or industrious.
彼はとても勤勉な人です。
He is a very hard worker.
Literally 'working person', this is a common and natural way to say someone is a hard worker. It has a positive connotation.
彼女は本当に働き者だね。
She's a real hard worker, isn't she?
Refers to someone who makes great efforts, a 'striver'. Emphasizes the effort put into work or study.
彼は努力家だから、きっと成功するよ。
He's a hard worker, so he'll surely succeed.
Means 'a person who is enthusiastic about their work'. It implies dedication and passion.
田中さんは仕事熱心な人ですね。
Mr. Tanaka is a hard worker, isn't he?
To describe a person who works hard in terms of time and endurance, often with a nuance of pushing themselves.
Literally 'worker bee', this is a common metaphor for someone who works tirelessly, often used in a positive or slightly sympathetic way.
彼はまるで働きバチのように働いている。
He works like a busy bee.
Literally 'work demon', this describes someone who is extremely dedicated to work, often to an excessive degree. Can be admiring or critical depending on context.
彼女は仕事の鬼で、毎日残業している。
She's a workaholic, working overtime every day.
To describe someone who does physically demanding work diligently.
A simple and natural phrase meaning 'a person who works a lot/hard'. Suitable for any context.
彼は若い頃、よく働く人だった。
When he was young, he was a hard worker.
Literally 'a person who works putting their body on the line', emphasizing physical effort and risk.
建設現場で体を張って働く人たちに感謝しています。
I'm grateful to the hard workers at the construction site.
働き者 emphasizes the act of working diligently, often in a job or daily tasks. 努力家 emphasizes the effort and striving towards a goal, which can include studying or personal projects. 努力家 is more about the mindset of making an effort.
The direct translation 'ハードワーカー' (hard worker) is sometimes used in Japanese, but it sounds like borrowed English and is less natural than native expressions like 働き者 or 勤勉な人.
Loanword from English 'workaholic'. Used similarly to English, often with a negative connotation of being addicted to work.
彼は完全なワーカホリックだ。
He's a total workaholic.