high-rise construction worker; steeplejack; scaffolder
Refers specifically to construction workers who specialize in working at heights, such as on scaffolding, roofs, or steel frames. The term comes from the way they move nimbly like a kite (鳶).
When he was young, he worked as a high-rise construction worker on skyscraper projects.
Scaffolders are very quick at assembling scaffolding.
Historical term for firefighters in the Edo period, many of whom were also construction workers (tobi) who used their climbing skills to fight fires. Not used for modern firefighters.
In the Edo period, tobi workers also served as firefighters.
steeplejack; scaffold builder; high-rise construction worker
Standard kanji spelling; 鳶 means 'kite (bird)' and by extension 'construction worker', 職 means 'occupation'.
Common simplified spelling using kana for とび; often seen in job listings and casual writing.
From 鳶 (とび, 'kite bird') + 職 (しょく, 'occupation'), referring to the way these workers move nimbly at heights like a kite. The historical firefighter sense arose because Edo-period construction workers often doubled as firefighters.