Translation guide
A person who moves to another area or country to find work, often in low-skilled or seasonal jobs. Japanese has several terms depending on the context, including foreign workers, seasonal laborers, and domestic migrants.
A person from another country working in Japan, often in manual or low-skilled jobs.
Standard term for 'foreign worker'. Neutral and widely used in news and official contexts.
日本では多くの外国人労働者が農業や建設業で働いています。
In Japan, many foreign workers work in agriculture and construction.
Literally 'immigrant worker'. Used when emphasizing the immigration aspect, but less common than 外国人労働者.
移民労働者の権利を守る法律が必要です。
Laws to protect the rights of immigrant workers are needed.
A worker who moves temporarily for seasonal work, such as harvesting.
Specifically refers to seasonal workers, often in agriculture or tourism.
夏の間、多くの季節労働者が北海道の農場で働きます。
During the summer, many seasonal workers work on farms in Hokkaido.
A person who moves within the same country for work, often from rural to urban areas.
Commonly used for domestic migrants who leave their hometowns to work in cities or industrial areas.
東北地方から多くの出稼ぎ労働者が関東に来ます。
Many migrant workers come to the Kanto region from the Tohoku region.
A foreign worker in Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program, often performing manual labor.
Official term for participants in Japan's Technical Intern Training Program. Often associated with migrant labor issues.
技能実習生の労働環境が問題になっています。
The working conditions of technical intern trainees have become an issue.
外国人労働者 is the most common and neutral term for foreign workers. 移民労働者 implies immigration and permanent settlement, which is less common in Japanese discourse. Use 外国人労働者 unless specifically discussing immigration policy.
The English phrase 'migrant worker' can carry political connotations. In Japanese, the specific context (foreign, seasonal, domestic) determines the best term. Using a vague translation may cause confusion.
Refers to workers who leave their home region temporarily to earn money, often in manual labor. Can be domestic or international.
彼は出稼ぎ労働者として東京に来ました。
He came to Tokyo as a migrant worker.