Translation guide
Compensation tied to work results rather than fixed salary. In Japanese business contexts, this concept is often expressed through specific terms for different pay structures, or described more generally.
Our company has introduced performance-based pay.
Literally 'performance-linked compensation'. Often used for executive pay or in formal documents.
Executive compensation is performance-linked.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'compensation according to results'. More flexible and can be used in conversation.
We pay compensation based on performance.
Pay directly tied to output quantity or sales, such as per item produced or percentage of sales.
Piecework pay, where wages are based on the amount produced. Common in manufacturing or freelance contexts.
Factory workers are paid by piecework.
Commission system, often used for sales roles where pay includes a base salary plus commission.
Full commission system with no base salary. Riskier and less common.
Pay increases or bonuses based on individual performance evaluations, common in annual salary reviews.
Merit pay, often a component of salary determined by performance evaluation.
Merit pay is reviewed once a year.
Bonus, often paid twice a year in Japan. Can be performance-linked but also includes fixed components.
Performance evaluation system that determines pay and promotions. Not pay itself, but the mechanism behind it.
Extra pay for achieving specific targets, such as project completion or sales milestones.
Directly translating 'performance-based pay' as パフォーマンスベースの給料 is unnatural. Use the specific terms above depending on context.
成果主義賃金 is a broad HR concept, while 出来高払い is specifically for pay per unit of output. Use 出来高払い for factory or freelance piecework, and 成果主義賃金 for corporate salary systems.
営業職は歩合制です。
Sales positions are commission-based.
Jobs with full commission are unstable.
Bonuses vary depending on performance.
Performance evaluation results are reflected in salary.
Success fee or contingency fee, often used for project-based work or consultants.
This project is on a success-fee basis.