タコ部屋べや

noun

labor camp; squalid workers' quarters

Historically refers to cramped, low-quality accommodation provided for laborers, especially in construction or mining, where workers were often exploited. The term evokes the image of an octopus trap (蛸部屋) from which it is hard to escape.

• 昔むかし、建けん設せつ現げん場ばの労ろう働どう者しゃたちはタコ部屋べやと呼よばれる劣れつ悪あくな宿しゅく舎しゃに押おし込こめられていた。

  In the past, construction workers were crammed into squalid lodgings called takobeya.

• タコ部べ屋や労ろう働どうは、現げん代だいでは違い法ほうな搾さく取しゅの一いち形けい態たいとみなされている。

  Takobeya labor is now considered a form of illegal exploitation.