Translation guide
The concept of forced, unpaid, or severely exploitative work, often under threat of punishment. In Japanese, this can be expressed through specific historical terms, general words for forced labor, or metaphorical phrases describing harsh working conditions.
Referring to the institution of slavery or forced labor in a historical context, such as in ancient Rome or the antebellum American South.
The direct translation, used in historical or academic contexts. Combines 奴隷 (slave) and 労働 (labor).
古代ローマでは奴隷労働が経済の基盤だった。
In ancient Rome, slave labor was the foundation of the economy.
Forced labor, a broader term that can include slavery but also other forms of compulsory work, such as prison labor or labor camps.
強制労働は国際法で禁止されている。
Forced labor is prohibited under international law.
Describing work that is not legally slavery but is extremely exploitative, with very low pay, long hours, and poor conditions, often likened to slavery.
Literally 'slave-like labor', used to describe harsh working conditions in modern contexts, such as sweatshops.
その工場では奴隷のような労働を強いられている。
They are forced to do slave-like labor in that factory.
Exploitative labor, emphasizing the extraction of value from workers without fair compensation. Often used in discussions of labor rights.
搾取労働の根絶を目指す運動が広がっている。
A movement aiming to eradicate exploitative labor is spreading.
Using 'slave labor' hyperbolically to describe a job or task that feels like drudgery, often with a sense of being overworked and underappreciated.
To be worked hard, to be driven like a slave. A common verb phrase that conveys being exploited or overworked.
バイト先でこき使われて、もう限界だ。
I'm being worked like a slave at my part-time job; I've had enough.
To work like a slave. A straightforward simile used in casual speech.
毎日奴隷のように働いても、給料は上がらない。
Even though I work like a slave every day, my salary doesn't go up.
To work like a cart horse. A traditional Japanese idiom meaning to work tirelessly and obediently, often without complaint.
父は家族のために馬車馬のように働いてきた。
My father has worked like a cart horse for the family.
While 奴隷労働 is the direct translation, it sounds formal and historical. In everyday conversation about being overworked, use phrases like こき使われる or 奴隷のように働く instead.
今の仕事は本当にこき使われるよ。
My current job really works me like a slave.
奴隷労働 specifically implies ownership of people as property, while 強制労働 is a broader legal term for any work extracted under threat of penalty. Use 強制労働 for modern forced labor cases like human trafficking or prison labor.
A colloquial term for 'black companies' that exploit workers through unpaid overtime, harassment, and other illegal practices. Not a direct translation but culturally relevant.
彼はブラック企業で奴隷のように働かされた。
He was made to work like a slave at a black company.