Translation guide
The English word 'worker' can refer to a person who does a job, especially manual or industrial labor, or more broadly anyone who works. Japanese has several words that map to these meanings, with important distinctions in formality, type of work, and context.
A person who works, especially in a company or organization, in a neutral sense.
The most direct translation for 'worker' in the sense of a laborer or member of the working class. Often used in economic, political, or social contexts.
Protect workers' rights.
Refers to an employee of a company or business. Common in workplace contexts.
A simple, everyday phrase meaning 'person who works'. Less formal and more general than 労働者.
I opened a cafe for workers.
Specifically a company employee, often a full-time, permanent staff member. Implies membership in a company.
A person who does physical or manual labor, often in construction, factories, etc.
A person who works in a particular industry or role, often expressed with suffixes.
Describing someone who works hard, often in a positive light.
労働者 emphasizes the working class or labor aspect, often used in social/political contexts. 従業員 is a neutral term for any employee in a workplace. 社員 specifically refers to a company employee, often with a sense of belonging to the organization. Use 社員 when the company affiliation is important, 従業員 for general employment, and 労働者 for labor rights or class discussions.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers often use more specific terms like 会社員 (company employee), 店員 (shop staff), or バイト (part-time worker) rather than the generic 労働者, which can sound overly formal or political. If you're unsure, describe the person's job specifically.
The workers are on strike.
This factory has 100 workers.
He is a worker at a major corporation.
Refers to a worker engaged in physical tasks, such as construction, manufacturing, or fieldwork. Emphasizes the work activity.
Workers are repairing the road.
Explicitly means 'manual laborer' or 'blue-collar worker'. More formal and specific.
He makes a living as a manual worker.
Factory worker. Somewhat dated; 作業員 is more common now.
The factory workers are working on the assembly line.
She is a bank worker.
Suffix meaning 'person who does ~', used in words like 技術者 (engineer/technician), 医療従事者 (healthcare worker).
Healthcare workers received the vaccine.
Suffix for specific types of laborers, e.g., 建設労働者 (construction worker), 移民労働者 (migrant worker).
The safety of construction workers is the top priority.
A hard worker; someone who is diligent and industrious. Often used as a compliment.
He's a real hard worker, isn't he?
A straightforward phrase meaning 'a person who works a lot/hard'.
People who work hard should be appreciated more.
She is a social worker.
Often borrowed directly as ソーシャルワーカー.
He's a fast worker.
Natural Japanese uses 仕事が早い (works fast) rather than a noun for 'fast worker'.