Translation guide
A business model where participants earn money primarily by recruiting new members rather than selling products. In Japanese, this is most commonly referred to as ねずみ講 (nezumikō), which is illegal. Other terms exist for legal multi-level marketing.
To refer to an illegal pyramid selling scheme where recruitment is the main source of income.
The standard term for an illegal pyramid scheme. Literally 'mouse lecture', but the etymology is uncertain. This is the most common and widely understood word.
To refer to a legal multi-level marketing business where product sales are the primary focus, but recruitment also plays a role.
In Japan, ねずみ講 (nezumikō) is strictly illegal under the 'Act on Prevention of Infinite Chain of Money Distribution'. マルチ商法 (maruchi shōhō) refers to legal multi-level marketing, but the line can be blurry in practice. Be careful not to use ねずみ講 for a legal MLM business, as it implies criminal activity.
ねずみ講 focuses on recruitment fees with no real product, while マルチ商法 involves selling actual products. However, many Japanese people view both negatively due to past scandals. When in doubt, use ねずみ講 for clearly illegal schemes and マルチ商法 for legal MLM, but be aware of the stigma.
ねずみ講は法律で禁止されています。
Pyramid selling is prohibited by law.
彼はねずみ講に引っかかって大金を失った。
He got caught in a pyramid scheme and lost a lot of money.
The legal term for an illegal pyramid scheme, as defined in the 'Act on Prevention of Infinite Chain of Money Distribution'. Used in formal or legal contexts.
無限連鎖講の防止に関する法律
Act on Prevention of Infinite Chain of Money Distribution
A direct translation of 'pyramid selling', often used to describe illegal schemes. Understandable but less common than ねずみ講.
ピラミッド商法は、参加者が新たな参加者を勧誘することで利益を得る仕組みです。
Pyramid selling is a system where participants profit by recruiting new participants.
Short for 'マルチレベルマーケティング商法'. This is the common term for legal MLM, though it can sometimes carry negative connotations due to association with pyramid schemes.
彼女はマルチ商法で化粧品を販売している。
She sells cosmetics through multi-level marketing.
A euphemistic term for MLM, often used by companies to avoid negative images. 'Network business' in English.
ネットワークビジネスに誘われたけど、断った。
I was invited to join a network business, but I declined.
The full borrowed term, used in business or academic contexts.
マルチレベルマーケティングは、口コミを利用した販売手法の一つです。
Multi-level marketing is one sales method that uses word-of-mouth.