Translation guide
A ragman is a person who collects and sells old rags and other discarded items. This concept is not common in modern Japan, so direct translations are rare. The guide focuses on describing the occupation naturally in Japanese.
Describe a person who collects and sells rags, scrap, or second-hand goods, historically or in a modern context.
Literally 'rag buyer'. This is the closest historical term for a ragman who would walk the streets buying old rags and waste paper. It is now archaic and mainly used in historical contexts.
昔、ぼろ買いが町を歩き回っていた。
In the old days, ragmen used to walk around town.
A general term for a junk dealer or scrap collector. While not specific to rags, it covers the broader occupation of collecting and selling waste materials. More common than ぼろ買い.
Means 'used clothing store' or 'used clothing dealer'. It can refer to a person who buys and sells old clothes, which overlaps with a ragman's trade, but it is more specific to clothing and often implies a shop.
The historical 'ragman' as a street buyer of rags does not have a direct modern Japanese equivalent. The closest terms are either archaic (ぼろ買い) or broader (くず屋). In modern contexts, describe the activity rather than using a single noun.
The junk collector gathers old metal and cloth.
A formal term for a waste collection business or person. It is used in modern contexts for recycling collectors, but can be applied to a ragman if describing the occupation officially.
廃品回収業者が古着を回収している。
The waste collector is picking up old clothes.
The used clothing dealer imports old clothes from overseas.