Translation guide
A person who illegally transports goods or people across borders. In Japanese, the most common and direct term is 密輸業者, but other words exist for specific contexts like human trafficking or drug smuggling.
A person who illegally brings goods across a border, avoiding customs or laws.
The standard, neutral term for a smuggler of goods. Used in news and formal contexts.
警察は密輸業者のグループを逮捕した。
The police arrested a group of smugglers.
Emphasizes the criminal aspect; a smuggler as a criminal offender. Often used in legal contexts.
彼は密輸犯として起訴された。
He was indicted as a smuggler.
Colloquial term for a courier or mule who physically transports illegal goods, often drugs. Can imply a lower-level operative.
彼は麻薬の運び屋として働いていた。
He worked as a drug mule.
A person who illegally transports people across borders, often for a fee.
Formal term for a human smuggling operator or facilitator. Literally 'illegal entry arrangement agent'.
密入国斡旋業者が摘発された。
A human smuggler was busted.
Specifically refers to a smuggler of people (human trafficking for illegal entry).
人身密輸業者が国境で捕まった。
A people smuggler was caught at the border.
Literally 'snakehead'. Refers specifically to Chinese human smuggling rings. Well-known term but limited to that context.
Only used for Chinese organized crime groups involved in human smuggling.
蛇頭が移民を船で密入国させた。
The snakehead smuggled immigrants by boat.
A person who illegally transports drugs across borders.
Standard term for a drug smuggler.
麻薬密輸業者が空港で逮捕された。
A drug smuggler was arrested at the airport.
Colloquial term for a drug mule or courier.
彼女は麻薬の運び屋として利用された。
She was used as a drug mule.
A person who smuggles goods, often in a historical or adventurous context, like rum-running or contraband during wars.
Historical term for a smuggler engaging in illegal trade, often during periods of trade restrictions (e.g., Edo period).
その密貿易商は鎖国中に富を築いた。
The smuggler built a fortune during the period of national isolation.
Can refer to a bootlegger or someone who sells smuggled goods, especially alcohol or other contraband.
禁酒法時代、多くの密売人が活動した。
During Prohibition, many smugglers were active.
The English word 'smuggler' covers both goods and people, but Japanese often uses more specific terms. Using 密輸業者 for a human smuggler is understandable but less precise than 密入国斡旋業者.
密輸業者 is a general smuggler (often the organizer), while 運び屋 specifically refers to the person physically carrying the goods (a mule). In news, 密輸業者 is more common.