Translation guide
A song sung while working, often to coordinate rhythm or relieve monotony. In Japanese, this concept is commonly expressed with specific terms for traditional labor songs, or more generally as a song about work.
A song sung by workers to synchronize movements or pass time during manual labor, such as farming, fishing, or construction.
General term for a work song or labor song, often used in academic or folk music contexts.
この地域には古い労働歌が残っている。
Old work songs remain in this region.
Literally 'work song,' used for songs sung during specific tasks like farming or weaving.
田植えの作業歌を覚えていますか。
Do you remember the rice-planting work songs?
A less common term, sometimes used in folk song classification.
民謡の中には仕事歌も多い。
Among folk songs, there are many work songs.
Named songs associated with particular occupations or activities, such as boat rowing, horse driving, or sake brewing.
Boatman's song or sea shanty, sung while rowing or sailing.
漁師たちは舟歌を歌いながら網を引いた。
The fishermen pulled the nets while singing a boat song.
Packhorse driver's song, traditionally sung by horse handlers.
馬子唄は山道でよく歌われた。
Packhorse driver's songs were often sung on mountain paths.
Sake brewing song, sung during the sake-making process.
酒造り唄は蔵人たちの労働を支えた。
Sake brewing songs supported the work of the brewers.
A contemporary song whose theme or lyrics focus on working life, not necessarily sung during labor.
A straightforward way to say 'a song about work' in everyday conversation.
最近、仕事の歌ばかり聴いている。
Lately, I've been listening only to songs about work.
More formal; 'a song themed around labor.'
彼の新曲は労働をテーマにした歌だ。
His new song is a song themed around labor.
If you mean a traditional folk work song, use 労働歌 or a specific term like 舟歌. For a modern pop song about working, say 仕事の歌 or describe it as 仕事についての歌.