Translation guide
A seaman is a sailor, especially one who is not an officer. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 船員 (sen'in), but other terms exist depending on context, such as 水夫 (suifu) for a deckhand or 海員 (kaiin) for a professional mariner. The English word can also refer to a naval rank, which has specific Japanese translations.
To refer to a person who works on a ship, especially one who is not an officer.
The most common and neutral term for a sailor or crew member on a ship. It can refer to any rank below officer.
To refer to a specific rank in the navy, equivalent to 'seaman' in English-speaking navies.
船員 is the most general and widely used term for a sailor or crew member. 水夫 is more specific to deckhands and can sound old-fashioned. 海員 is formal and often used in legal or professional contexts, such as 'merchant seaman' (商船海員). For everyday use, 船員 is the safest choice.
彼は船員として働いている。
He works as a seaman.
Specifically refers to a deckhand or ordinary seaman, often used in historical or literary contexts. Less common in modern everyday speech.
その水夫は甲板を掃除していた。
The seaman was scrubbing the deck.
A formal term for a mariner or seafarer, often used in legal or professional contexts (e.g., 'merchant seaman').
海員組合に加入する。
Join the seamen's union.
The standard term for an enlisted sailor in the navy, equivalent to 'seaman' as a rank. Used in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and historically.
彼は水兵として海軍に入隊した。
He joined the navy as a seaman.
Specifically 'seaman second class' or 'ordinary seaman', a lower naval rank.
二等水兵から一等水兵に昇進した。
He was promoted from seaman second class to seaman first class.