Translation guide
The proletariat refers to the working class, especially those who do not own the means of production. In Japanese, the term is often translated directly from Marxist theory, but natural usage varies by context.
The social class of wage-earners who do not own capital and must sell their labor to survive, as defined in Marxist theory.
The standard loanword from German 'Proletariat', used in academic and political discourse. It directly corresponds to the Marxist concept.
According to Marx, the proletariat is the agent of revolution.
Literally 'working class'. A more general term that can be used in both Marxist and non-Marxist contexts. It is less technical than プロレタリアート.
The living standards of the working class gradually improved.
An older term meaning 'propertyless class', directly translating 'proletariat'. It is now mostly historical or used in very formal Marxist texts.
They called for the unity of the proletariat.
The broad social group of people who work for wages, especially in manual or industrial jobs, without the specific Marxist connotation.
The most common and neutral term for 'working class' in everyday language. It can be used in sociology, economics, or casual conversation.
He comes from a working-class background.
Refers to 'common people' or 'the masses', often implying the non-elite, ordinary working population. It lacks the strict economic class definition but can overlap in meaning.
Means 'the masses' or 'general public'. It can refer to the working class in a broad sense, but is more about the populace as a whole rather than a specific economic class.
プロレタリアート is a direct loanword used almost exclusively in Marxist or academic contexts. 労働者階級 is the standard term for 'working class' in everyday Japanese and is understood by all. Use プロレタリアート only when discussing Marxist theory specifically.
dictatorship of the proletariat
rights of the working class
In English, 'proletariat' can sometimes be used loosely to mean 'working class', but in Japanese, プロレタリアート is strongly associated with Marxism. If you are not discussing class struggle or revolution, use 労働者階級 or a more general term like 庶民.
I was born into a working-class family.
その政策は庶民の生活を圧迫した。
That policy put pressure on the lives of ordinary working people.
大衆の支持を得るために、労働者向けの政策を打ち出した。
To gain support from the masses, they introduced policies for workers.