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
手間
てま (tema)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "labor" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 労働 and 手間.
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, 手間 (てま (tema)) maps to "labor, effort, trouble, time and effort" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Refers to the time, effort, and labor required to do something. Often implies inconvenience or a burden.. 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 "手間"
この料理は手間がかかる。
This dish takes a lot of effort.
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.". "手間" represents "labor, effort, trouble, time and effort".