Translation guide
A person who occupies land or a building without legal permission. In Japanese, the term depends on whether the occupation is of land, a building, or a residence, and whether it is temporary or long-term.
To refer to someone who lives on or uses land or a building without the owner's permission, often in a context of homelessness or protest.
General legal term for a person who illegally occupies land or a building. Neutral and widely understood.
その建物には不法占拠者が住み着いている。
Squatters have taken over that building.
Similar to 不法占拠者 but emphasizes living/residing illegally. Often used in legal or news contexts.
不法居住者を立ち退かせるには法的手続きが必要だ。
Legal procedures are necessary to evict squatters.
Shorter term for 'occupier', often used in news headlines. Can imply illegal occupation but context is needed.
占拠者たちは建物の明け渡しを拒否した。
The squatters refused to vacate the building.
Literally 'unauthorized resident'. Used in formal or legal documents.
無断居住者への対応は大家にとって頭痛の種だ。
Dealing with squatters is a headache for landlords.
To refer to someone who occupies and often improves vacant land, sometimes with the intention of gaining legal title (e.g., historical homesteading or modern land grabs).
Settler or colonist; can be used for historical squatters who claimed land. Does not inherently imply illegality.
19世紀のアメリカでは多くの入植者が無主地に住み着いた。
In 19th-century America, many squatters settled on unclaimed land.
Illegal settler; explicitly denotes unauthorized occupation of land.
政府は国有地の不法入植者を取り締まっている。
The government is cracking down on squatters on public land.
To refer to someone who takes shelter in a vacant or abandoned structure, often associated with homelessness.
Literally 'resident of ruins'. Colloquial and descriptive, often used in media.
その廃墟の住人たちは夜になると集まってくる。
The squatters in the abandoned building gather at night.
Specifically refers to someone occupying a vacant house. Used in news about 'akiya' (empty homes) issues.
空き家占拠者が近所で問題になっている。
Squatters in vacant houses are becoming a problem in the neighborhood.
The English word 'squatter' has no single exact equivalent in Japanese. Using a direct translation like スクワッター (sukuwattā) is not common and may not be understood. Always choose a term based on the specific context (land, building, legal status).
Both mean illegal occupant. 不法占拠者 focuses on the act of occupying (占拠), while 不法居住者 focuses on living/residing (居住). In many cases they are interchangeable, but 不法居住者 is slightly more common in residential contexts.