Translation guide
A rundown area of a city where people who are homeless or have very low incomes live, often associated with social problems.
The English term 'skid row' refers to a dilapidated part of a city inhabited by homeless people and the very poor, often with connotations of alcoholism and crime.
A common term for a flophouse district or area with many cheap lodging houses, often associated with day laborers and homeless people. This is the closest equivalent to 'skid row' in Japanese.
He grew up on skid row.
Literally 'poor people's street', this is a more general term for a slum or impoverished area. It lacks the specific connotation of transient lodging but is widely understood.
A loanword from English 'slum', used for slum areas. It is common but may sound slightly more like a developing-world slum rather than the specific American 'skid row'.
Refers specifically to the Airin district in Osaka, historically known as a day-laborer and flophouse area. It is a well-known example of a Japanese 'skid row' but is a proper noun.
The concept of 'skid row' is strongly tied to American urban history. In Japan, areas like Kamagasaki in Osaka or San'ya in Tokyo have similar reputations, but the term ドヤ街 is the most direct translation. Using 貧民街 or スラム街 may evoke images of developing-world slums rather than the specific American phenomenon.
That city has a large skid row area.
スラム街の生活は厳しい。
Life on skid row is tough.
The Airin district is known as Osaka's skid row.