noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to a person owned by another or forced to work without freedom. Can also be used metaphorically for someone completely controlled by a habit, desire, or system.
In ancient Rome, many slaves were used.
He has become a slave to money.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to the institution or state of being a slave. Often used in historical or social contexts.
Slavery was abolished in the 19th century.
They enslaved the people captured in the war.
He became a slave to money.
She was sold as a slave.
After many years, he was finally freed from slavery.
Many countries abolished the institution of slavery.
召使い refers to a servant who works voluntarily or for pay, whereas 奴隷 implies forced servitude with no personal freedom.
農奴 refers specifically to a feudal serf bound to land, a narrower historical category than the general term 奴隷.
奴隷 is the standard modern word for a slave, while 臣 is an archaic term covering slaves, servants, and captives alike.
奴隷 is the standard Japanese word for a slave in historical or social contexts, while スレイブ is a katakana loanword that sounds more like fiction, game, or technical jargon.
slavery; system of slavery
slave ship
sex slave; sexual slavery
slavery; system of slavery
slave labor
slaver; slave trader
slave contract; harsh long-term contract
servile character; slave mentality
emancipation of slaves; slave emancipation
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news and general use.
Compound of 奴 (servant, slave) and 隷 (servant, subordinate). Both characters carry meanings of servitude and low status. The word has been used in Japanese since at least the Heian period to refer to enslaved people or those in bondage.
slave trade