Translation guide
The English word 'worker' can refer to a person who does a job, especially manual or industrial labor, or more broadly anyone who works. Japanese has several words that map to these meanings, with important distinctions in formality, type of work, and context.
A person who works, especially in a company or organization, in a neutral sense.
The most direct translation for 'worker' in the sense of a laborer or member of the working class. Often used in economic, political, or social contexts.
労働者の権利を守る。
Protect workers' rights.
Refers to an employee of a company or business. Common in workplace contexts.
この工場には100人の従業員がいます。
This factory has 100 workers.
A simple, everyday phrase meaning 'person who works'. Less formal and more general than 労働者.
働く人たちのためにカフェを開きました。
I opened a cafe for workers.
Specifically a company employee, often a full-time, permanent staff member. Implies membership in a company.
彼は大手企業の社員です。
He is a worker at a major corporation.
A person who does physical or manual labor, often in construction, factories, etc.
Refers to a worker engaged in physical tasks, such as construction, manufacturing, or fieldwork. Emphasizes the work activity.
作業員が道路を修理している。
Workers are repairing the road.
Explicitly means 'manual laborer' or 'blue-collar worker'. More formal and specific.
彼は肉体労働者として生計を立てている。
He makes a living as a manual worker.
Factory worker. Somewhat dated; 作業員 is more common now.
A person who works in a particular industry or role, often expressed with suffixes.
Suffix meaning 'member' or 'personnel', used in words like 会社員 (company employee), 公務員 (public servant), 店員 (shop worker).
彼女は銀行員です。
She is a bank worker.
Suffix meaning 'person who does ~', used in words like 技術者 (engineer/technician), 医療従事者 (healthcare worker).
医療従事者はワクチンを受けた。
Healthcare workers received the vaccine.
Suffix for specific types of laborers, e.g., 建設労働者 (construction worker), 移民労働者 (migrant worker).
建設労働者の安全が最優先だ。
The safety of construction workers is the top priority.
Describing someone who works hard, often in a positive light.
A hard worker; someone who is diligent and industrious. Often used as a compliment.
彼は本当に働き者だね。
He's a real hard worker, isn't he?
A straightforward phrase meaning 'a person who works a lot/hard'.
よく働く人ほど評価されるべきだ。
People who work hard should be appreciated more.
労働者 emphasizes the working class or labor aspect, often used in social/political contexts. 従業員 is a neutral term for any employee in a workplace. 社員 specifically refers to a company employee, often with a sense of belonging to the organization. Use 社員 when the company affiliation is important, 従業員 for general employment, and 労働者 for labor rights or class discussions.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers often use more specific terms like 会社員 (company employee), 店員 (shop staff), or バイト (part-time worker) rather than the generic 労働者, which can sound overly formal or political. If you're unsure, describe the person's job specifically.
労働者たちがストライキをしている。
The workers are on strike.
彼は仕事が早い。
He's a fast worker.
Natural Japanese uses 仕事が早い (works fast) rather than a noun for 'fast worker'.
工員たちは組み立てラインで働いている。
The factory workers are working on the assembly line.