Translation guide
A person who engages in prostitution without legal permission or outside regulated systems. In Japanese contexts, this often refers to historical or underground sex workers, and the most natural translations depend on era, legality, and formality.
To refer to a sex worker operating without a license, especially in historical or legal contexts.
The standard term for an unlicensed or illegal prostitute, often used in historical or legal discussions. Contrasts with 公娼 (licensed prostitute).
Before the war, unlicensed prostitutes were subject to crackdowns.
A general term for a prostitute, not specifying licensed status. Can be used for unlicensed prostitutes in modern contexts, but is somewhat blunt.
彼女は違法な売春婦として逮捕された。
She was arrested as an illegal prostitute.
Refers to a street prostitute, often unlicensed. Common in historical or sociological contexts.
戦後の混乱期には多くの街娼がいた。
In the postwar chaos, there were many street prostitutes.
A literal translation meaning 'unlicensed prostitute'. Understandable but unnatural; used mainly in legal or explanatory texts.
無許可の売春婦は法律で罰せられる。
Unlicensed prostitutes are punished by law.
To refer to unlicensed sex workers in historical Japan, especially those operating outside the licensed pleasure quarters.
A term for waitresses at inns who also engaged in prostitution, often unlicensed, during the Edo period.
宿場町には飯盛女が多くいた。
There were many meshimori onna in post towns.
Literally 'night hawk', a term for low-class unlicensed street prostitutes in the Edo period.
An archaic term for a streetwalker or unlicensed prostitute, often found in classical literature.
To describe a person engaging in prostitution illegally in contemporary Japan, often in the context of anti-prostitution laws.
A formal, legalistic term for someone working illegally in the sex industry. Avoids the direct word 'prostitute'.
違法な性風俗従事者が摘発された。
Illegal sex workers were raided.
Refers to a woman working for a delivery health service, which may operate illegally if prostitution is involved. Often used in news reports.
This term implies a specific type of sex work; not all unlicensed prostitutes are デリヘル嬢.
違法なデリヘル嬢が逮捕された。
An illegal delivery health worker was arrested.
Slang for a street prostitute, often unlicensed, standing in certain areas. Common in modern contexts.
The phrase 'unlicensed prostitute' is rarely used in natural Japanese conversation. Depending on context, it's better to use historical terms like 私娼 or modern descriptive phrases like 違法な性風俗従事者. Avoid literal translations like 無許可の売春婦 unless in a legal document.
In historical contexts, 公娼 (kōshō) refers to licensed prostitutes working in government-regulated districts, while 私娼 (shishō) refers to unlicensed ones. This distinction is crucial in pre-war and Edo period discussions.
Yotaka picked up clients outside Yoshiwara.
Tsujigimi often appear in early modern literature.
Street prostitutes are a problem in Okubo Park.