Translation guide
The lowest hourly, daily, or monthly wage that employers are legally allowed to pay their workers.
The legally mandated lowest wage, usually set by the government.
Describing a job or person that pays/receives the minimum wage.
To work for minimum wage. A natural way to say someone earns the minimum.
彼は最低賃金で働いている。
He works for minimum wage.
When pay is less than the legal minimum.
Below the minimum wage. Often used in discussions of illegal underpayment.
最低賃金以下の給料は違法です。
Paying below the minimum wage is illegal.
In Japanese, 最低賃金 specifically refers to the hourly minimum wage. For a minimum annual salary, use 最低年収 (さいていねんしゅう) or similar terms.
東京の最低賃金はいくらですか？
What is the minimum wage in Tokyo?
政府は最低賃金を引き上げた。
The government raised the minimum wage.
The standard term for 'minimum wage' in legal and everyday contexts. Often abbreviated as 最賃 (さいちん) in news or official documents.
最低賃金は都道府県ごとに異なります。
The minimum wage varies by prefecture.
最低賃金の引き上げが議論されている。
A raise in the minimum wage is being discussed.
The Minimum Wage Act. Used when referring to the law itself.
最低賃金法に違反すると罰則があります。
Violating the Minimum Wage Act can result in penalties.
Abbreviation of 最低賃金, used in news headlines or internal documents. Not for general conversation.
最賃、過去最大の上げ幅に。
Minimum wage sees largest increase ever.
A minimum-wage job. Used to describe the type of employment.
最低賃金の仕事しか見つからなかった。
I could only find minimum-wage jobs.
To fall below the minimum wage. More formal phrasing.
その会社の賃金は最低賃金を下回っていた。
That company's wages were below the minimum wage.