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.
He is a factory laborer.
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.
The laborers are repairing the road.
Explicitly means 'manual laborer' or 'blue-collar worker.' Used when emphasizing the physical nature of the work.
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.
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.
Construction labor is tough.
A more formal and specific term for a construction worker. Suitable for official contexts.
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.
To refer to a laborer hired on a daily or temporary basis, often without a fixed contract.
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.
Construction laborers are building a skyscraper.
Scaffolding laborers are unfazed by heights.
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.
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.
He wanders from place to place as a casual laborer.