Translation guide
A mercenary is a soldier who fights for money rather than loyalty to a country or cause. In Japanese, the most common term is 傭兵 (ようへい), but there are also historical and figurative expressions.
A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army or private military force.
The standard term for a mercenary soldier. Neutral and widely understood.
Describing someone who does something only for financial gain, not out of principle or loyalty.
Literally 'a person who moves for money'. A natural way to describe someone mercenary in a figurative sense.
彼は完全に金で動く人だ。
He's completely mercenary.
傭兵 (ようへい) specifically means a soldier for hire. Using it to describe a greedy person would sound strange. Use phrases like 金で動く人 instead.
彼は傭兵として戦った。
He fought as a mercenary.
その国は傭兵部隊を雇った。
That country hired a mercenary unit.
Literally 'hired soldier'. Less common than 傭兵 but still used.
中世の雇い兵は報酬のために戦った。
Medieval mercenaries fought for pay.
A mercenary group or company. Often used in fantasy or historical contexts.
彼は傭兵団の隊長だ。
He is the leader of a mercenary band.
Private soldier or army, often implying loyalty to an individual rather than a state. Can overlap with mercenary in some contexts.
彼は私兵を雇って城を守らせた。
He hired private soldiers to defend the castle.
A person who will do anything for money. Stronger and more negative.
彼女は金のためなら何でもする人だ。
She's mercenary; she'll do anything for money.
A money-worshipper, someone who values money above all else. More ideological than 'mercenary' but can be used in similar contexts.
彼は拝金主義者で、友情よりも金を選ぶ。
He's a mercenary person who chooses money over friendship.