Translation guide
The English word 'peasant' refers to a traditional farmer or rural laborer of low social status, often in historical or feudal contexts. In Japanese, there is no single perfect equivalent; the best choice depends on whether you mean a historical class, a modern farmer, or a derogatory term for an unsophisticated person.
Referring to a member of the traditional farming class in pre-modern Japan, typically of low social status.
The standard term for 'peasant' in historical contexts. It refers to farmers as a social class, especially in feudal Japan. Neutral in tone.
江戸時代の農民は重い税に苦しんだ。
Peasants in the Edo period suffered under heavy taxes.
Historically referred to farmers/commoners. In modern usage, it can sound old-fashioned or even derogatory when used to mean 'country bumpkin'. Use with caution.
In contemporary Japanese, calling someone 百姓 can be insulting, similar to 'hick' or 'yokel'. Stick to 農民 for neutral historical reference.
昔、百姓は土地を耕して生計を立てていた。
In the old days, peasants made a living by tilling the land.
Specifically a tenant farmer, not a landowner. More precise than 農民 when tenancy is key.
小作人は地主に収穫の一部を納めていた。
Tenant farmers paid a portion of their harvest to the landlord.
Referring to a person who works in agriculture today, without historical class connotations.
Means 'farm household' or 'farmer' in modern contexts. It refers to the family/occupation, not a social class. This is the natural choice for a contemporary farmer.
彼は農家に生まれ、毎日畑仕事をしている。
He was born into a farming family and works in the fields every day.
Using 'peasant' as an insult to imply someone is crude, ignorant, or low-class.
Literally 'country person', used derogatorily like 'hick', 'bumpkin', or 'yokel'. Closest in tone to insulting 'peasant'.
あんな田舎者に何がわかるんだ。
What does that peasant know?
As noted above, can be used insultingly. Often heard in phrases like 百姓根性 (peasant mentality).
Strongly derogatory; avoid unless you intend to insult.
Very derogatory term for a farmer/peasant, emphasizing dirt/soil. Rare and highly offensive.
Referring to a peasant in medieval Europe, often in fantasy or historical settings.
Means 'serf', specifically a peasant bound to the land under feudalism. Accurate for medieval European contexts.
中世ヨーロッパでは、農奴は領主の土地で働かされた。
In medieval Europe, serfs were made to work on the lord's land.
Tenant farmer, similar to 小作人 but can be used in broader historical contexts.
English 'peasant' carries strong class connotations that don't map directly onto modern Japanese society. Using 農民 for a present-day farmer can sound odd or historical. Use 農家 or 農業従事者 instead.
彼は農家です。
He is a farmer.
農民 is the neutral historical term. 百姓 is older and can be derogatory today. In academic writing about history, 農民 is preferred. In colloquial insults, 百姓 or 田舎者 are used.
歴史書では「農民」が使われる。
History books use 'nōmin'.
彼を百姓呼ばわりするな。
Don't call him a peasant.
Formal term for 'agricultural worker'. Used in statistics or official contexts.
この地域の農業従事者の平均年齢は65歳です。
The average age of agricultural workers in this region is 65.
彼は百姓根性が抜けない。
He can't shake off his peasant mentality.
あの男はただの土百姓だ。
That man is nothing but a dirty peasant.
小作農はしばしば貧しい生活を送っていた。
Tenant farmers often lived in poverty.