Translation guide
A group of people who do unpaid work for a cause or community.
A group of people who volunteer together, often for community service or charity.
The most direct and common translation. Used for any organized volunteer group.
毎週末、ボランティアグループで公園の清掃をしています。
Every weekend, I clean the park with a volunteer group.
Slightly more formal, often used for registered organizations.
そのボランティア団体は災害支援で有名です。
That volunteer group is famous for disaster relief.
A formal term for a service organization, often used for groups like Rotary or Lions Club.
彼は地域の奉仕団体に所属しています。
He belongs to a local service organization.
A casual, often small group of friends or acquaintances who volunteer together.
Common among university students or young people. 'サークル' implies a club-like atmosphere.
大学のボランティアサークルに入りました。
I joined a volunteer circle at university.
A group formed temporarily for a specific event or project.
Emphasizes teamwork, often for a short-term project like a festival or sports event.
マラソン大会のボランティアチームを募集しています。
We are recruiting a volunteer team for the marathon.
A group of people who work as unpaid staff for an organization or event.
Focuses on the role as staff members. Often used in event contexts.
ボランティアスタッフとして参加しませんか？
Would you like to participate as volunteer staff?
In Japanese, 'ボランティア' can refer to both the activity and the person. To specify a group, add 'グループ', '団体', etc. Saying just 'ボランティア' might be ambiguous.