Translation guide
A person who works in a mine extracting minerals or coal. Japanese has several words depending on the type of mine and context.
彼は鉱夫です。
He is a miner.
The most common, neutral term for a person who works in a mine.
Standard word for a miner, especially in industrial contexts. Can refer to any type of mining.
彼は炭鉱の鉱夫として働いている。
He works as a miner in a coal mine.
Also means miner, but emphasizes working in a pit or shaft. Often used interchangeably with 鉱夫.
坑夫たちは地下深くで作業する。
The miners work deep underground.
A more formal, descriptive term meaning 'mining worker'. Used in official or technical contexts.
採掘労働者の安全が最優先だ。
The safety of mining workers is the top priority.
When you need to specify that the miner works with coal.
Specifically a coal miner. Combines 炭鉱 (coal mine) and 夫 (worker).
祖父は炭鉱夫だった。
My grandfather was a coal miner.
For someone who mines gold, often with a historical or adventurous nuance.
Literally 'gold mine digger'. Used for gold miners, especially in historical contexts like the Gold Rush.
多くの金鉱掘りがカリフォルニアに集まった。
Many gold miners gathered in California.
A more formal term for a gold mine worker.
金山労働者の賃金は高かった。
The wages of gold miners were high.
For modern contexts like cryptocurrency mining, or as a general term for someone who extracts resources.
Loanword from English, used for cryptocurrency miners and sometimes for other types of miners in a modern context.
彼はビットコインのマイナーだ。
He is a Bitcoin miner.
A general term for 'extractor' or 'miner', can be used for both traditional mining and cryptocurrency.
採掘者は新しいブロックを生成する。
Miners generate new blocks.
鉱夫 (こうふ) is the most general term for a miner. 坑夫 (こうふ) is also common but emphasizes working in a pit. 炭鉱夫 (たんこうふ) specifically means coal miner. In everyday conversation, 鉱夫 is usually sufficient.
鉱夫の仕事はきつい。
A miner's job is tough.
炭鉱夫は肺病になりやすい。
Coal miners are prone to lung disease.
When talking about cryptocurrency mining, the loanword マイナー is the most natural choice. 採掘者 is also understood but sounds more formal or technical.
鉱夫たちはストライキを起こした。
The miners went on strike.
彼は学校を出てから鉱夫になった。
He became a miner after leaving school.