Translation guide
The English word 'workman' refers to a person who does manual or physical work, often in construction, repair, or maintenance. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent that covers all uses naturally. The best choice depends on the type of work, context, and level of formality.
A person employed for physical work, especially in building or outdoor settings.
A general term for a worker engaged in physical tasks, often at construction sites or factories. Neutral and widely understood.
作業員が道路を補修している。
Workmen are repairing the road.
A skilled craftsman or artisan. Implies mastery of a trade like carpentry, plastering, or metalwork. Not for unskilled laborers.
彼は腕のいい職人だ。
He is a skilled workman.
A broader term for 'worker' or 'laborer', often used in economic or political contexts. Can sound formal or abstract.
工場で多くの労働者が働いている。
Many workmen are working in the factory.
Specifically a construction laborer doing heavy earthwork or groundwork. Can sound rough or old-fashioned; sometimes considered derogatory.
Use with care; may carry a negative nuance of unskilled, tough manual labor.
土方の仕事はきつい。
Workman's work is tough.
A person who comes to fix or maintain something in a home or building.
Specifically a repairman. Often used for mechanics or technicians fixing appliances, cars, etc.
修理工がエアコンを直してくれた。
The workman fixed the air conditioner.
A casual, everyday way to say 'the repair person'. Natural in spoken Japanese.
明日、修理の人が来る。
The workman is coming tomorrow.
Technician or engineer. More formal and implies specialized technical skill, not just manual labor.
Emphasizing that someone does physical work for a living, often with a sense of pride or contrast.
Again, craftsman. Highlights skill and dedication to a trade. Often used positively.
彼は職人気質だ。
He has a workman's spirit.
Descriptive phrase: 'a person who works by moving their body'. Useful when no specific term fits.
彼は体を動かして働く人で、デスクワークはしない。
He's a workman; he doesn't do desk work.
The English word 'workman' often sounds unnatural if translated literally into Japanese. Instead, choose a term based on the specific job or context. For example, 'the workman came to fix the sink' is better as 「修理の人が来た」 than 「作業員が来た」, which sounds like a construction crew arrived.
作業員 (sagyōin) is a neutral term for a manual worker at a site. 職人 (shokunin) implies skilled craftsmanship. 労働者 (rōdōsha) is a broader, often political/economic term for 'laborer'. Use 作業員 for general physical workers, 職人 for artisans, and 労働者 in discussions about labor rights or statistics.
作業員が足場を組んでいる。
Workmen are assembling scaffolding.
職人が家具を手作りする。
A workman handcrafts furniture.
労働者の権利を守る。
Protect the rights of workmen.
作業員が家のペンキを塗った。
The workman painted the house.
腕のいい職人は何でも直せる。
A skilled workman can fix anything.
労働者たちがストライキをしている。
The workmen are on strike.
The workman inspected the equipment.