Translation guide
Work paid according to the number of items produced or tasks completed, rather than by the hour.
Describing work where payment is based on output, not time.
The standard term for piecework payment. Literally 'output-based pay'. Used in business and labor contexts.
This factory uses a piecework system.
Refers to the piecework system or output-based system. Often used when discussing the structure rather than the payment itself.
Piecework jobs have unstable income.
Commission-based or piece-rate system. Common in sales and some manual labor. Slightly broader than pure piecework.
Commission-based pay varies greatly depending on results.
Verb phrase meaning 'to pay by the piece' or 'to pay according to output'.
They pay the workers by the piece.
Referring to a specific job or task that is paid by the piece.
The rate of pay per unit produced.
出来高払い is specifically output-based pay, common in factories. 歩合制 is broader, often used for commission-based pay in sales. Both can translate 'piecework' but 出来高払い is more precise for manual production work.
Do not translate 'piecework' literally as ピースワーク. It is not a recognized term in Japanese. Use the established terms above.
母は内職で箱の組み立てをしています。
My mother does piecework assembling boxes at home.
Contract work, often paid by the job or piece. More common in construction or freelancing.
This carpenter builds houses on a contract (piecework) basis.
The piece rate is 50 yen per item.