Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Labor" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "labor", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
労働
ろうどう (roudou)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
勤労
きんろう (kinrō)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "labor" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 労働 and 勤労.
In Japanese, 労働 (ろうどう (roudou)) is typically associated with "labor; work" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to physical or mental work, often in a formal or societal context.
On the other hand, 勤労 (きんろう (kinrō)) maps to "labor, work, diligence, industry" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents A formal term for working or labor, often emphasizing the value of hard work and diligence. Used in phrases like 勤労感謝の日. A literal translation of "labor" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "労働"
彼は毎日8時間労働しています。
He labors (works) 8 hours every day.
Bilingual Context for "勤労"
勤労の精神は日本の社会を支えてきた。
The spirit of diligence has supported Japanese society.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は毎日8時間 ＿＿＿ しています。" (Meaning: "He labors (works) 8 hours every day.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "労働" fits here because it means "labor; work" in the context of: "He labors (works) 8 hours every day.". "勤労" represents "labor, work, diligence, industry".