Translation guide
A person who does physical work, often unskilled or manual. In Japanese, the most common and neutral term is 労働者, but other words carry nuances of blue-collar work, day labor, or specific industries.
laborer (general)
manual laborer
To refer to a person who works, especially in a physical or manual job, in a general or formal context.
The standard, neutral term for 'laborer' or 'worker'. Used in formal contexts, news, and labor rights discussions.
He is a factory laborer.
Refers to a worker engaged in a specific task or operation, often at a site like construction or factory. Slightly more concrete than 労働者.
To emphasize the physical, often unskilled nature of the work, or to refer to a blue-collar worker.
To refer to a laborer hired by the day, often without a permanent contract.
To specify a laborer working in construction.
To refer to a person doing manual work on a farm.
A farm worker, often hired for seasonal labor.
In casual conversation, Japanese speakers often use more specific job titles (e.g., 大工 for carpenter, 工場勤務 for factory worker) rather than the generic 'laborer'. Using 労働者 in casual contexts can sound overly formal or political.
He is a laborer at the port.
Protect the rights of laborers.
Laborers are repairing the road.
He makes a living as a manual laborer.
A phrase meaning 'a person who does physical work'. More descriptive and casual than 肉体労働者.
We are looking for laborers (people to do physical work).
Specifically a day laborer. Common in contexts of construction or dock work.
He works as a day laborer.
Short for 日雇い労働者. Can be used as a noun meaning 'day labor' or 'day laborer'.
Look for day labor work.
Construction laborers are building a skyscraper.
A somewhat dated or rough term for a construction laborer, especially one doing earthworks. Can be considered derogatory; use with caution.
May sound derogatory or old-fashioned. Use 建設作業員 for neutral contexts.
He used to work as a construction laborer (in the old days).
We are hiring farm laborers.
Historical term for a male farm laborer, often live-in. Rarely used today except in historical contexts.
The life of a farm laborer in the Edo period was harsh.
多くの労働者が職を失った。
Many laborers lost their jobs.