Translation guide
How to express the concept of restructuring in Japanese, covering business reorganization, corporate downsizing, and related terms.
To refer to the process of reorganizing a company's structure, operations, or finances, often to improve efficiency or profitability.
Short for リストラクチャリング (restructuring). Commonly used in Japanese to refer to corporate downsizing, layoffs, or restructuring. Note that in Japanese, リストラ often implies job cuts, unlike the broader English meaning.
In Japanese, リストラ strongly implies job cuts or downsizing. For restructuring without layoffs, use other terms like 事業再編.
会社がリストラを実施した。
The company carried out restructuring.
リストラで多くの社員が解雇された。
Many employees were laid off due to restructuring.
Refers to business reorganization, such as merging divisions, spinning off units, or realigning operations. More neutral than リストラ and does not necessarily imply layoffs.
当社は事業再編を進めています。
Our company is proceeding with business restructuring.
Organizational restructuring, often used in the context of changing corporate structure, such as creating new departments or changing reporting lines.
組織再編により、新しい部門が設立された。
A new division was established as part of the organizational restructuring.
The full loanword for restructuring. Less common than the abbreviated リストラ, and may sound more formal or technical.
企業のリストラクチャリングには時間がかかる。
Corporate restructuring takes time.
To refer to the process of reorganizing a company's debt or financial obligations, often to avoid bankruptcy.
Specifically refers to debt restructuring, such as renegotiating loan terms or converting debt to equity.
その会社は債務再編を申請した。
The company filed for debt restructuring.
Financial restructuring, broader than debt restructuring, may include changes to capital structure, asset sales, etc.
財務再編の一環として、不採算事業を売却した。
As part of financial restructuring, they sold off unprofitable businesses.
To express that a company is reducing its workforce as part of restructuring.
Literally 'personnel adjustment', a common euphemism for layoffs or workforce reduction during restructuring.
リストラの一環として人員整理が行われた。
Workforce reduction was carried out as part of the restructuring.
Direct term for dismissal or layoff. Can be used when restructuring leads to job losses.
To solicit voluntary retirement, a common method in Japanese companies to reduce headcount without forced layoffs.
会社は再編のため、希望退職を募った。
The company solicited voluntary retirement as part of restructuring.
To refer to restructuring of non-corporate entities like government agencies, systems, or processes.
General term for reorganization or restructuring, applicable to organizations, systems, etc. Often used in compounds.
政府機関の再編が計画されている。
Restructuring of government agencies is being planned.
Rebuilding or restructuring, often used for systems, processes, or abstract concepts like business models.
The Japanese word リストラ (from 'restructuring') is almost always associated with layoffs or downsizing. If you want to talk about restructuring without implying job cuts, use 事業再編 or 組織再編 instead.
再編 (reorganization) is used for rearranging existing elements (e.g., departments, companies), while 再構築 (rebuilding) implies a more fundamental redesign or reconstruction, often from scratch.
会社は大規模なリストラ計画を発表した。
The company announced a major restructuring plan.
If layoffs are implied, リストラ is natural.
再編では、いくつかの部署を統合する予定です。
The restructuring will involve merging several departments.
Here 再編 is better because it's about reorganization, not layoffs.
Fifty people were laid off due to the restructuring.
業務プロセスの再構築が必要だ。
We need to restructure our business processes.