Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Labor" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "labor", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
手間
てま (tema)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
労力
ろうりょく (rōryoku)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "labor" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 手間 and 労力.
In Japanese, 手間 (てま (tema)) is typically associated with "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..
On the other hand, 労力 (ろうりょく (rōryoku)) maps to "labor, effort, toil" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Refers to the physical or mental effort and hard work required to do something. Often used with verbs like 「かける. A literal translation of "labor" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "手間"
この料理は手間がかかる。
This dish takes a lot of effort.
Bilingual Context for "労力"
そのプロジェクトには多大な労力が必要だ。
That project requires a great deal of effort.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "この料理は ＿＿＿ がかかる。" (Meaning: "This dish takes a lot of effort.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "手間" fits here because it means "labor, effort, trouble, time and effort" in the context of: "This dish takes a lot of effort.". "労力" represents "labor, effort, toil".