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 more specific words exist depending on context, formality, and type of work.
To refer to a person who does physical or manual work in a general sense, often in industrial, construction, or agricultural settings.
The most common and neutral term for a laborer or worker, especially in economic, political, or social contexts. Can refer to both blue-collar and white-collar workers, but often implies manual labor.
彼は工場の労働者です。
He is a factory laborer.
労働者の権利を守る。
Protect the rights of laborers.
Refers to a worker engaged in a specific task or operation, often at a worksite. More concrete and task-oriented than 労働者. Common in construction, manufacturing, and fieldwork.
作業員が道路を修理している。
The laborers are repairing the road.
Explicitly means 'manual laborer' or 'blue-collar worker.' Used when emphasizing the physical nature of the work.
彼は肉体労働者として生計を立てている。
He makes a living as a manual laborer.
A somewhat dated or formal term for a laborer, often used in legal or administrative contexts. Can imply unskilled manual workers.
労務者の雇用条件を改善する。
Improve the employment conditions of laborers.
To refer specifically to a laborer working on a construction site.
Common term for a construction laborer, especially one doing heavy manual work like digging or carrying. Can sound slightly rough or traditional.
土方の仕事はきつい。
Construction labor is tough.
A more formal and specific term for a construction worker. Suitable for official contexts.
建設作業員が高層ビルを建てている。
Construction laborers are building a skyscraper.
Refers specifically to a construction worker who specializes in high-altitude work, such as scaffolding and steel frame assembly. A traditional and skilled trade.
To refer to a person who does manual work on a farm.
General term for a farm worker or agricultural laborer.
農作業員が田植えをしている。
Farm laborers are planting rice.
A somewhat dated term for a male farmhand or agricultural laborer, often implying a live-in worker in traditional settings.
昔、作男は農家に住み込んで働いた。
In the past, farm laborers lived and worked at the farmer's house.
To refer to a laborer hired on a daily or temporary basis, often without a fixed contract.
Standard term for a day laborer. Often used in discussions of precarious employment.
彼は日雇い労働者として建設現場で働いている。
He works as a day laborer at construction sites.
Short for 日雇い労働者. Can also refer to the system of daily employment itself.
労働者 is a broad term for 'worker' and can include both manual and non-manual labor, often used in socio-economic contexts. 作業員 is more specific to a person doing a particular task or operation, typically at a worksite, and strongly implies hands-on work.
In English, 'laborer' can be a general term for any worker, but in Japanese, using 労働者 for a skilled professional or office worker would be unnatural. Match the term to the type of work and context.
Scaffolding laborers are unfazed by heights.
日雇いの仕事を探す。
Look for day labor work.
Literally 'free laborer,' a term sometimes used for casual or unaffiliated workers, but less common than 日雇い.
自由労働者として各地を転々とする。
He wanders from place to place as a casual laborer.