Translation guide
The English word "labor" covers physical work, childbirth, workers as a group, and the act of working hard. Japanese uses different words for each meaning, and direct translation can sound unnatural.
Referring to manual work, toil, or strenuous effort.
General term for labor, especially physical or manual work, often used in economic or social contexts.
肉体労働は大変だ。
Manual labor is tough.
労働条件を改善する。
Improve working conditions.
Labor in the sense of diligent work or service, often used in formal contexts like Labor Thanksgiving Day.
勤労感謝の日は国民の祝日だ。
Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday.
Effort or labor expended, often emphasizing the energy or trouble involved.
この仕事には多くの労力が必要だ。
This job requires a lot of labor.
The process of giving birth.
Labor pains or contractions; the physical process of labor.
陣痛が始まった。
Labor has started.
Childbirth or delivery; the entire event of giving birth.
A softer, more everyday term for childbirth.
お産が近い。
She is close to labor.
The collective workforce or labor force.
Workers, laborers; can refer to individuals or the working class.
労働者の権利を守る。
Protect the rights of labor.
Labor force or manpower, often used in economic contexts.
The verb form: to labor at something, to toil.
General verb for working; can imply physical labor depending on context.
彼は農場で一日中働いた。
He labored on the farm all day.
To take pains, to work hard; literally 'break one's bones'.
To experience hardship or toil; emphasizes the difficulty.
彼は若い頃ずいぶん苦労した。
He labored a lot when he was young.
English 'to labor' often sounds unnatural if directly translated. Use context-appropriate verbs like 働く (to work) or 苦労する (to struggle) instead of trying to force a single equivalent.
彼女は無事に出産を終えた。
She safely completed her labor.
その国は安い労働力に依存している。
That country depends on cheap labor.
彼はそのプロジェクトに骨折って働いた。
He labored hard on the project.