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A1 noun #3,103 most common 12 min read

労働

rōdō Top 3,103

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 労働 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 労働 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize 労働 (rōdō) as a formal word for 'work.' While you will mostly use 'shigoto' (仕事) to talk about your job or 'benkyō' (勉強) for studying, you might see 労働 on signs or in very basic news headlines. Think of it as the 'serious' version of work. You don't need to use it in daily conversation yet, but knowing that 'rōdō' means labor will help you understand that someone is talking about working in a general or official sense. It is often paired with 'jikan' (時間) to mean 'working hours.' Just remember: for your own job, say 'shigoto'; for the concept of labor, it's 'rōdō.' This distinction is the first step toward professional Japanese fluency.

At the A2 level, you can begin to use 労働 (rōdō) in simple compound words. You might talk about 労働時間 (rōdō jikan - working hours) when describing your schedule in a more formal way. You should also recognize 労働者 (rōdōsha - worker) as a term for people who work. At this stage, you are moving beyond just personal experiences and starting to understand how society describes groups of people. You might encounter this word in simple readings about Japanese culture or workplace rules. It's important to start noticing that 労働 is a noun and that if you want to use it as a verb, you add 'suru,' though 'hataraku' remains the more common choice for everyday actions.

By B1, you should be comfortable using 労働 (rōdō) in discussions about society and the economy. You should know common terms like 労働組合 (rōdō kumiai - labor union) and 労働条件 (rōdō jōken - labor conditions). You can now use 労働 to discuss broader issues, such as the 'labor shortage' (労働力不足 - rōdōryoku busoku) in Japan. Your ability to distinguish between 労働 (formal labor) and 仕事 (general work/task) should be clear. You might also start to see the word in news articles about government policies like the 'Work Style Reform.' Using 労働 in these contexts shows that you have a grasp of formal vocabulary and can engage in more serious conversations about employment and social issues.

At the B2 level, you should understand the legal and industrial implications of 労働 (rōdō). You are expected to know terms like 労働基準法 (Labor Standards Act) and be able to discuss complex topics like 労働生産性 (labor productivity) or 労働市場 (labor market). You can use the word to analyze the difference between 肉体労働 (manual labor) and 知的労働 (intellectual labor) in a nuanced way. You should also be aware of the social weight the word carries in Japan, particularly regarding the ethics of work and the history of labor movements. Your writing should reflect this by using 労働 in appropriate academic or professional registers, ensuring that your choice of vocabulary matches the gravity of the topic.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 労働 (rōdō) should include its philosophical and historical nuances. You can discuss the 'dignity of labor' (労働の尊厳) or the 'alienation of labor' (労働の疎外) in a sociological context. You should be able to read and critique legal documents, economic white papers, and academic journals where 労働 is a central theme. You understand how the word is used in political rhetoric to frame arguments about national identity and economic growth. Furthermore, you can distinguish between similar formal terms like 労働 (rōdō), 就労 (shūrō), and 勤務 (kinmu) with perfect accuracy, using each one to convey the exact legal or social status intended in high-level discourse.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like mastery of 労働 (rōdō) and its myriad applications. You can navigate the most technical aspects of labor law, including complex litigation involving 労働関係 (labor relations). You are familiar with archaic or highly specialized terms such as 労働三権 (the three basic rights of labor) and can discuss the evolution of the concept of 労働 from the pre-industrial era to the digital age. You can use the word with rhetorical flair in speeches or professional writing, subtly shifting its nuance to evoke specific emotional or intellectual responses. Your command of the word allows you to participate in the highest levels of Japanese professional and academic life without hesitation.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

労働 in 30 Seconds

労働 (rōdō) is the formal Japanese term for 'labor' or 'work,' primarily used in legal, economic, and industrial contexts.
Unlike the casual word 'shigoto,' 労働 refers to the abstract concept of effort and the institutional framework of employment.
Common compounds include 労働時間 (working hours), 労働者 (worker), and 労働組合 (labor union), all essential for professional Japanese.
It acts as a noun or a suru-verb, though the noun form is far more frequent in official documentation and news reporting.

The Japanese word 労働 (ろうどう - rōdō) is a fundamental term that translates primarily to 'labor' or 'work' in English. While the common word for 'work' or 'job' is 仕事 (shigoto), 労働 carries a more formal, technical, and sociological nuance. It refers to the exertion of physical or mental effort for the purpose of production, economic gain, or social duty. You will encounter this word frequently in legal documents, news reports regarding the economy, and academic discussions about the workforce. It represents the concept of human effort as a commodity or a social function rather than just a daily task or a specific career path.

Formal Context: 労働 is used in official capacities, such as 労働基準法 (Labor Standards Act) or 労働組合 (Labor Union). It focuses on the rights and duties of the worker.

日本では1日の法定労働時間は8時間です。(In Japan, the legal labor time per day is 8 hours.)

The term is composed of two kanji: 労 (rou), which signifies labor, toil, or effort, and 働 (dou), which specifically means to work (composed of the 'person' radical and the character for 'move'). Together, they emphasize the 'human movement' involved in production. Unlike work in the sense of 'I have a lot of work today' (which would be shigoto), 労働 describes the systemic nature of working. For instance, 'manual labor' is 肉体労働 (nikutai rōdō), and 'intellectual labor' is 知的労働 (chiteki rōdō). It is a word that categorizes the type of energy being spent.

Economic Scope: In economics, the labor force is called 労働力 (rōdōryoku). This refers to the total number of people available for work in a country.

彼は過酷な労働条件に耐えています。(He is enduring harsh labor conditions.)

Furthermore, 労働 is essential in sociological contexts. It touches upon the human condition and the necessity of contributing to society. In modern Japan, issues like 過労死 (karōshi)—death from overwork—are directly linked to the culture of 労働. Understanding this word helps you navigate formal Japanese society, understand your employment contract, and follow news regarding the 'Work Style Reform' (働き方改革 - hatarakikata kaikaku), which is a major political theme in Japan aimed at improving 労働 environments.

Sociological Nuance: Labor is often viewed as a duty (義務 - gimu) in Japanese society, reflected in the 'duty to work' stipulated in the Constitution.

強制労働は法律で禁止されています。(Forced labor is prohibited by law.)

In summary, 労働 is the backbone of the Japanese economic vocabulary. While a child might say 'Papa is at work' using shigoto, a government official would discuss the 'labor shortage' using rōdōryoku-busoku. It is a word that elevates the discussion of effort from the personal to the structural, making it an indispensable term for anyone looking to work in Japan or understand its social fabric.

正当な労働の対価を受け取る権利があります。(You have the right to receive fair compensation for labor.)

近代社会において、労働は単なる手段ではありません。(In modern society, labor is not merely a means to an end.)

Using 労働 (rōdō) correctly involves understanding its grammatical role primarily as a noun and its ability to function as a suru-verb (労働する - to labor). However, the noun form is much more common, often appearing as part of compound words that describe specific aspects of the working world. To use it effectively, you must distinguish between the act of working and the institutional framework of work.

As a Noun: 労働 refers to the concept of labor. Example: 'Labor is hard' -> 労働は大変だ (Rōdō wa taihen da).

彼は1日10時間の重労働に従事している。(He is engaged in 10 hours of heavy labor a day.)

When you want to describe the duration of work in a formal sense, you use 労働時間 (rōdō jikan). In a sentence like 'My working hours are long,' you would say 私の労働時間は長いです (Watashi no rōdō jikan wa nagai desu). This sounds more like a statement about one's contractual obligations than a casual complaint. Similarly, when discussing the environment or terms of a job, 労働条件 (rōdō jōken) is the standard term. You might say 'The labor conditions are improving' as 労働条件が改善されています (Rōdō jōken ga kaizen sarete imasu).

Compound Usage: Many specialized terms use 労働 as a prefix, such as 労働市場 (labor market) or 労働生産性 (labor productivity).

その工場では、児童労働が問題になっている。(Child labor has become an issue at that factory.)

In legal or administrative contexts, 労働 is used to describe the status of a person. A 'worker' or 'laborer' is 労働者 (rōdōsha). If you are discussing the rights of workers, you would say 労働者の権利 (rōdōsha no kenri). In a sentence: 'Protecting the rights of workers is important' -> 労働者の権利を守ることは重要です (Rōdōsha no kenri o mamoru koto wa jūyō desu). Note how the word provides a serious, objective tone to the conversation.

Suru-Verb Form: Using 労働する (rōdō suru) is less common than 仕事をする, but it appears in contexts like 'working for wages' or 'performing manual labor'.

彼は生活のために、毎日懸命に労働している。(He is laboring hard every day for his livelihood.)

When describing the intensity of work, you can use adjectives like 過酷な (kakoku na - harsh) or 単純な (tanjun na - simple). For example, 'Simple labor' is 単純労働 (tanjun rōdō), often referring to unskilled work. 'The automation of simple labor is progressing' would be 単純労働の自動化が進んでいる (Tanjun rōdō no jidōka ga susunde iru). By combining 労働 with these descriptors, you can precisely categorize the nature of the effort being discussed.

深夜労働には、手当が支給されます。(Allowances are paid for late-night labor.)

外国人労働者の受け入れが拡大している。(The acceptance of foreign workers is expanding.)

The word 労働 (rōdō) is ubiquitous in Japanese public life, particularly in spheres related to governance, economics, and social justice. If you turn on the NHK evening news, you are almost guaranteed to hear it within the first fifteen minutes, especially during segments about the economy or government policy. It is the preferred term for news anchors when discussing the 'Labor Force Survey' (労働力調査) or changes in employment laws. In this context, it sounds authoritative and objective.

Government & Law: The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is called 厚生労働省 (Kōsei-rōdō-shō). This is one of the most powerful government bodies in Japan.

厚生労働省が新しい指針を発表しました。(The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced new guidelines.)

In a corporate setting, you will hear 労働 during orientation sessions or when reading the 'Employment Rules' (就業規則 - shūgyō kisoku). HR managers will use it to discuss 労働契約 (rōdō keiyaku - labor contracts) and 労働環境 (rōdō kankyō - labor environment). It is also the central term used by 労働組合 (rōdō kumiai - labor unions) during negotiations for better pay or conditions, known as 'Shunto' (Spring Wage Offensive). In these situations, 労働 signifies the collective power and rights of the employees.

Academic & Educational: In universities, students study 労働経済学 (Labor Economics) or 労働法 (Labor Law).

大学で労働法を専攻しています。(I am majoring in labor law at university.)

Culturally, you might hear the word in documentaries or historical dramas that depict the industrialization of Japan. Terms like 強制労働 (kyōsei rōdō - forced labor) or 過酷な労働 (kakoku na rōdō - harsh labor) are used to describe the struggles of workers in mines or factories during the Meiji or Taisho eras. In modern pop culture, especially in 'social' or 'business' manga and anime, characters might debate the value of their labor or the ethics of their 労働環境. It serves as a serious keyword that grounds the story in reality.

Daily Life News: Discussions about the aging population often revolve around the shrinking 労働力 (labor force).

少子高齢化により、労働力が不足しています。(Due to the low birth rate and aging population, the labor force is insufficient.)

Finally, on the internet and social media, the word appears in discussions about 'Black Companies' (ブラック企業 - burakku kigyō), which are notorious for 不当労働 (futō rōdō - unfair labor) practices. Users might share their 労働時間 to warn others or seek advice on 労働相談 (rōdō sōdan - labor consultation). In all these instances, 労働 is the formal 'label' applied to the act of working to discuss its legal, economic, and moral implications.

サービス残業は、無料の労働と言えるでしょう。(Unpaid overtime can be called free labor.)

彼は労働組合のリーダーを務めています。(He serves as the leader of the labor union.)

The most frequent mistake learners make with 労働 (rōdō) is using it where 仕事 (shigoto) would be much more natural. While both mean 'work,' shigoto is the word for your everyday tasks, your occupation, or the specific thing you are doing right now. If you say 労働に行きます (Rōdō ni ikimasu) to mean 'I'm going to work,' it sounds incredibly stiff, almost as if you are a character in a dystopian novel or a legal textbook. The natural phrase is 仕事に行きます (Shigoto ni ikimasu).

Category Error: Don't use 労働 to refer to a specific task. Use it for the abstract concept or the physical act of laboring.

❌ 今日の労働は終わった。(Incorrect for 'My work for today is done' in a casual sense.)

Another common error is confusing 労働 with 勤務 (kinmu). 勤務 refers to being 'on duty' or 'at one's post,' typically used in a professional or service context (e.g., 'I am on duty from 9 to 5'). 労働, on the other hand, describes the nature of the activity (e.g., 'Manual labor'). If you want to say 'I work at a hospital,' you would use 勤務しています (kinmu shite imasu) or 働いています (hataraite imasu), but not 労働しています (rōdō shite imasu) unless you are describing the physical toil involved.

Misusing the Verb Form: 労働する sounds very heavy. It implies toiling or performing manual labor rather than just 'working' at a desk.

✅ 私は週に5日働いています。(I work 5 days a week - using the verb hataraku.)

Lastly, learners often forget that 労働 is a noun that frequently acts as a prefix. Forgetting the specific compound words can lead to unnatural phrasing. For example, instead of saying 'work time,' you must say 労働時間 (rōdō jikan) in formal contexts. Saying 仕事の時間 (shigoto no jikan) is fine for 'it's time for work,' but it cannot replace 労働時間 when discussing legal limits or corporate policy. Precision in choosing between 労働 and 仕事 is key to sounding like a proficient speaker.

Contextual Mismatch: Using 労働 in a casual conversation with friends will make you sound like you're reading a newspaper out loud.

❌ 明日の労働は何時から？(Too formal for 'What time is work tomorrow?')

To avoid these mistakes, always ask yourself: 'Am I talking about my personal job (仕事) or the social/legal concept of labor (労働)?' If it's the latter, 労働 is your word. If it's the former, stick to shigoto or the verb hataraku. This distinction will help you maintain the appropriate register and avoid sounding unintentionally dramatic or bureaucratic.

✅ 彼は過酷な労働から解放された。(He was released from harsh labor.)

❌ 労働が忙しいです。(Incorrect for 'I'm busy with work.')

Understanding 労働 (rōdō) requires knowing its place among several other words that mean 'work' or 'labor.' Each has a specific nuance and register. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about a physical task, a professional duty, or an abstract economic concept.

労働 (Rōdō) vs. 仕事 (Shigoto): 仕事 is the most general term for work, including errands and chores. 労働 is restricted to the formal concept of labor, usually for pay or as a duty.

家事も立派な労働の一つです。(Housework is also a legitimate form of labor.)

Another important alternative is 作業 (sagyō). 作業 refers to a specific task, operation, or piece of work, often manual or technical. While 労働 is the general category of 'laboring,' sagyō is what you are actually doing with your hands or tools. For example, 'cleaning the floor' is a sagyō that falls under the category of rōdō. In a factory, you would hear 作業中 (sagyō-chū - currently working/operating), but the legal framework of that work is 労働.

労働 (Rōdō) vs. 勤務 (Kinmu): 勤務 focuses on the place and time of employment. You 'kinmu' at a company, but you perform 'rōdō'.

彼は夜間労働に従事している。(He is engaged in night labor.)

There is also 職 (shoku), which means 'employment' or 'occupation.' You might 'lose your job' (職を失う), but you wouldn't say you 'lose your labor.' Shoku is your position in the workforce, whereas 労働 is the effort you provide once you have that position. Similarly, 就労 (shūrō) is a formal term for 'engaging in work' or 'employment,' often used in visa contexts (e.g., 就労ビザ - work visa). 労働 describes the act, while 就労 describes the legal status of working.

労働 (Rōdō) vs. 労作 (Rōsaku): 労作 refers to a laborious work of art or literature, emphasizing the painstaking effort put into a creation.

知的労働の価値が高まっています。(The value of intellectual labor is increasing.)

Finally, consider 稼働 (kadō), which means 'operation' or 'running,' usually applied to machines or systems. While 労働 is for humans, kadō is for the factory line or the computer server. If a person is working hard, it's 労働; if the factory is running at full capacity, it's フル稼働 (furu-kadō). Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the most precise word for the 'work' you are describing, from the abstract labor of a nation to the specific task of a single machine.

彼は労働の喜びを説いた。(He preached the joy of labor.)

適正な労働時間の確保が必要です。(It is necessary to ensure appropriate labor hours.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 働 was invented in Japan during the Edo period because there wasn't a specific Chinese character that perfectly captured the nuance of a 'person moving' to do work. It was later 'exported' back to China and Korea.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈrəʊ.dɔː/

US /ˈroʊ.doʊ/

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. In 労働, the accent is typically on the first syllable 'rō', with a drop on 'dō' (Heiban pattern in some dialects, but often heard with a slight initial peak).

Rhymes With

高度 (kōdo - altitude) 行動 (kōdō - action) 報道 (hōdō - news report) 講堂 (kōdō - lecture hall) 暴動 (bōdō - riot) 公道 (kōdō - public road) 王道 (ōdō - royal road) 能動 (nōdō - active)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'r' like an English 'r' (it should be a flick of the tongue like a Spanish 'r' or a light 'd').
Making the 'o' sounds too diphthongized (like 'oh-oo'). They should be pure long vowels.
Confusing 'rōdō' with 'rodō' (short vowels). The 'o' must be held for two beats.
Adding a stress accent like English 'RO-do'. Keep the pitch relatively steady.
Forgetting the long 'u' sound at the end of both kanji readings in kana (ろうどう).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The kanji are N3 level, but the word is introduced early in formal contexts.

Writing 4/5

The kanji 働 has many strokes and requires practice to balance.

Speaking 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward, but the long vowels must be clear.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognizable in news and formal announcements.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

仕事 (shigoto) 働く (hataraku) 人 (hito) 動く (ugoku) 時間 (jikan)

Learn Next

雇用 (koyō - employment) 賃金 (chingin - wages) 権利 (kenri - rights) 義務 (gimu - duty) 経済 (keizai - economy)

Advanced

労働三権 (rōdō sanken) 労働生産性 (rōdō seisansei) 不当労働行為 (futō rōdō kōi) 裁量労働制 (sairyō rōdō sei)

Grammar to Know

Noun + として (Toshite)

彼は労働者として働いている。(He is working AS a laborer.)

Noun + に従事する (Ni jūji suru)

彼女は知的労働に従事している。(She is engaged in intellectual labor.)

Suru-verbs

毎日8時間労働する。(To labor 8 hours every day.)

Compound Nouns

労働時間、労働者、労働力 (Combining 労働 with other nouns directly.)

Passive Voice with 労働

不当な労働を強いられる。(To be forced into unfair labor.)

Examples by Level

労働時間は8時間です。

Labor time is 8 hours.

Noun + は + Noun + です pattern.

これは大切な労働です。

This is important labor.

Adjective + Noun pattern.

労働をします。

I do labor.

Noun + を + Verb pattern.

父の労働は大変です。

My father's labor is hard.

Possessive particle 'no'.

労働のあとで休みます。

I rest after labor.

'No ato de' means after.

労働は朝からです。

Labor is from the morning.

'Kara' means from.

みんなで労働しましょう。

Let's labor together.

Volitional form 'shimashō'.

労働は必要です。

Labor is necessary.

Simple declaration.

労働条件を確認してください。

Please check the labor conditions.

Compound noun: 労働条件.

彼は労働者として働いています。

He is working as a laborer.

'Toshite' means as.

毎日の労働が楽しみです。

I look forward to daily labor.

Noun phrase as subject.

労働時間を短くしたいです。

I want to shorten the working hours.

Want to form: 'shitai'.

労働組合に入りました。

I joined the labor union.

Compound noun: 労働組合.

重い労働は体に悪いです。

Heavy labor is bad for the body.

Adjective + Noun.

新しい労働のルールがあります。

There are new labor rules.

Existence verb 'arimasu'.

労働の対価をもらいます。

I receive compensation for labor.

Noun + no + Noun.

日本の労働力不足は深刻な問題です。

Japan's labor shortage is a serious problem.

Compound noun: 労働力不足.

政府は労働環境の改善を求めています。

The government is seeking improvement in the labor environment.

Object + を + 求める.

労働基準法を守らなければなりません。

We must obey the Labor Standards Act.

Must form: 'nakereba narimasen'.

彼は知的労働に興味があります。

He is interested in intellectual labor.

Specific noun: 知的労働.

労働の価値について話し合いました。

We discussed the value of labor.

'Ni tsuite' means about.

外国人労働者が増えています。

Foreign workers are increasing.

Present progressive: 'te-iru'.

効率的な労働が求められる時代です。

This is an era where efficient labor is required.

Passive form: 'motomerareru'.

労働時間を適切に管理すべきです。

Labor hours should be managed appropriately.

'Subeki' means should.

労働生産性の向上が経済成長の鍵です。

Improving labor productivity is the key to economic growth.

Compound: 労働生産性.

不当な労働を強いることは許されません。

Forcing unfair labor is not permitted.

Nominalizing a verb with 'koto'.

労働市場の流動性が高まっています。

The liquidity of the labor market is increasing.

Abstract noun: 労働市場.

彼は労働組合の幹部として活躍している。

He is active as an executive of the labor union.

Formal particle 'toshite'.

深夜労働には深夜手当が加算されます。

Late-night allowances are added to late-night labor.

Passive: 'kasan sareru'.

労働契約の内容を詳細に確認した。

I checked the contents of the labor contract in detail.

Compound: 労働契約.

働き方改革は、労働者の負担を減らすためだ。

The Work Style Reform is to reduce the burden on workers.

'Tame da' expresses purpose.

単純労働の自動化は避けられない流れだ。

The automation of simple labor is an inevitable trend.

Noun modification.

労働の疎外という概念について考察する。

We will consider the concept of the alienation of labor.

Philosophical term: 労働の疎外.

労働三権は憲法で保障されています。

The three basic rights of labor are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Legal term: 労働三権.

非正規労働者の格差問題が深刻化している。

The inequality issue of non-regular workers is becoming more serious.

Specific term: 非正規労働者.

労働力の再生産を支える社会保障制度。

A social security system that supports the reproduction of the labor force.

Economic term: 労働力の再生産.

彼は労働紛争の解決に尽力している。

He is putting effort into resolving labor disputes.

Compound: 労働紛争.

搾取的な労働慣行を根絶すべきだ。

Exploitative labor practices should be eradicated.

Strong modal: 'subeki da'.

労働の尊厳を維持するための最低賃金制。

A minimum wage system to maintain the dignity of labor.

Abstract noun: 労働の尊厳.

ギグ・エコノミーにおける労働の定義を問う。

Questioning the definition of labor in the gig economy.

Modern context: ギグ・エコノミー.

労働価値説の現代的意義を再評価する。

Re-evaluating the modern significance of the labor theory of value.

Academic term: 労働価値説.

労働基準監督署の是正勧告に従う。

Complying with the correction recommendation of the Labor Standards Inspection Office.

Bureaucratic term: 労働基準監督署.

労働市場のミスマッチが構造的失業を招く。

Labor market mismatch leads to structural unemployment.

Economic term: 構造的失業.

労働集約型産業から知識集約型産業への転換。

A shift from labor-intensive industries to knowledge-intensive industries.

Technical term: 労働集約型.

労働契約の不利益変更は原則として無効である。

Disadvantageous changes to labor contracts are, in principle, invalid.

Legal principle.

労働力の流動化が日本的経営に変容を迫っている。

The mobilization of the labor force is forcing a transformation in Japanese-style management.

Complex causal relationship.

潜在的労働力率の動向を注視する必要がある。

It is necessary to closely monitor the trends in the potential labor force participation rate.

Statistical term: 潜在的労働力率.

労働は自己実現の手段として昇華されるべきだ。

Labor should be sublimated as a means of self-actualization.

Philosophical term: 昇華される.

Synonyms

仕事勤務作業勤労稼ぎ

Antonyms

休息余暇不労

Common Collocations

労働時間

労働条件

労働組合

労働者

労働基準法

労働力

肉体労働

知的労働

労働生産性

過酷な労働

Common Phrases

労働の対価

— Compensation for labor. Refers to the wages or benefits received for work.

労働の対価として給与を払う。

労働の喜び

— The joy of labor. Refers to the fulfillment one gets from working.

労働の喜びを分かち合う。

労働市場

— Labor market. The supply and demand for labor in an economy.

労働市場の動向を調査する。

労働争議

— Labor dispute. A conflict between workers and employers.

労働争議が長期化している。

労働環境

— Labor environment. The physical and social conditions of a workplace.

より良い労働環境を整える。

労働契約

— Labor contract. The legal agreement between an employer and an employee.

労働契約書に署名する。

労働三法

— The three basic labor laws of Japan. Crucial for understanding Japanese labor rights.

労働三法の内容を学ぶ。

労働移動

— Labor mobility. The movement of workers between jobs or regions.

労働移動を促進する政策。

強制労働

— Forced labor. Work performed against one's will under threat.

強制労働は人権侵害である。

サービス労働

— Service labor. Often refers to unpaid work or 'service' overtime in Japan.

サービス労働が問題視されている。

Often Confused With

労働 vs 仕事 (shigoto)

Shigoto is for specific tasks or your job. Rōdō is for the abstract concept of labor.

労働 vs 勤務 (kinmu)

Kinmu refers to the time/place of being on duty. Rōdō refers to the effort exerted.

労働 vs 作業 (sagyō)

Sagyō is a specific task or operation. Rōdō is the overarching category of labor.

Idioms & Expressions

"額に汗して労働する"

— To work by the sweat of one's brow. Emphasizes honest, hard physical work.

彼は額に汗して労働し、家族を養った。

Idiomatic/Literary

"労働は美徳なり"

— Labor is a virtue. An old saying emphasizing the moral value of working.

労働は美徳なりという教えを信じる。

Proverbial

"労働の疎外"

— Alienation of labor. A Marxist concept where workers feel disconnected from their products.

現代社会における労働の疎外を論じる。

Academic

"労働の神聖さ"

— The sanctity of labor. The idea that all work has inherent spiritual value.

労働の神聖さを忘れてはならない。

Philosophical

"労働の担い手"

— The bearer/driver of labor. Refers to the people who actually do the work.

若者が次世代の労働の担い手だ。

Formal

"労働の質"

— Quality of labor. Refers to the skill or intensity of the work performed.

労働の質を向上させることが重要だ。

Economic

"労働の再生産"

— Reproduction of labor. The social process of maintaining the workforce.

教育は労働の再生産の一環である。

Sociological

"労働の義務"

— The duty to labor. One of the three duties of citizens under the Japanese Constitution.

日本国民には労働の義務がある。

Legal

"労働の対価を得る"

— To get what you worked for. Getting fair pay for your effort.

正当な労働の対価を得る権利がある。

Formal

"労働の分担"

— Division of labor. Splitting tasks among different people.

効率化のために労働の分担を行う。

Technical

Easily Confused

労働 vs 就労 (shūrō)

Both relate to working.

Shūrō is about the legal status of being employed (e.g., work visa). Rōdō is the act of laboring itself.

就労ビザで労働する。(To labor with a work visa.)

労働 vs 労務 (rōmu)

Both use the kanji for labor.

Rōmu is specifically about labor management and administrative affairs in a company.

労務管理の仕事。(Work in labor management.)

労働 vs 稼働 (kadō)

Both involve 'working' or 'moving.'

Kadō is for machines or systems. Rōdō is for human beings.

工場が稼働し、労働者が働く。(The factory operates, and workers work.)

労働 vs 労作 (rōsaku)

Both mean labor-related work.

Rōsaku is a noun for a 'laborious creation' (art/book). Rōdō is the general act of labor.

彼の労作は労働の成果だ。(His masterpiece is the result of labor.)

労働 vs 勤労 (kinrō)

Very similar to 労働.

Kinrō implies diligence and the moral duty of working (e.g., Labor Thanksgiving Day is Kinrō Kansha no Hi).

勤労の義務を果たす。(Fulfill the duty of labor.)

Sentence Patterns

労働は [Adjective] です。

労働は大変です。

[Noun] + の労働

父の労働は長いです。

労働時間を [Verb]

労働時間を短縮します。

労働者として [Verb]

労働者として権利を守る。

労働の [Noun] を [Verb]

労働の対価を受け取る。

労働基準法に [Verb]

労働基準法に違反する。

労働の [Abstract Noun]

労働の疎外を分析する。

労働集約型の [Noun]

労働集約型の産業が衰退する。

Word Family

Nouns

労働者 (rōdōsha) - worker

労働力 (rōdōryoku) - labor force

労働界 (rōdōkai) - the world of labor

労働法 (rōdōhō) - labor law

Verbs

労働する (rōdō suru) - to labor

働く (hataraku) - to work (native verb)

Adjectives

労働的な (rōdō-teki na) - labor-like (rare)

勤勉な (kinben na) - diligent (related concept)

労災 (rōsai) - industrial accident compensation

苦労 (kurō) - hardship/trouble

功労 (kōrō) - meritorious service

過労 (karō) - overwork

疲労 (hirō) - fatigue

How to Use It

frequency

High in news, law, and business; low in casual daily life.

Common Mistakes

Using 労働 for 'I have a lot of work to do today.' → 今日は仕事がたくさんあります。
労働 refers to the concept or act of labor, not a pile of tasks.
Saying 労働に行きます to mean 'I'm going to work.' → 仕事に行きます。
労働 is too formal/technical for daily commuting.
Confusing 労働 with 勤務 when stating where you work. → 私は銀行に勤務しています。
勤務 focuses on your post/station; 労働 focuses on the effort of working.
Using 労働 to describe machine operation. → 機械が稼働している。
労働 is only for human effort. Use 稼働 for machines.
Writing 働 without the 'person' radical. → 労働 (with 人 radical).
Without the person radical, it's just 'move' (動). Labor requires a person.

Tips

Formal vs. Casual

Always prefer 仕事 (shigoto) in conversation. Save 労働 (rōdō) for when you want to sound like an expert or are reading a contract.

Compound Power

労働 is rarely alone. Learn it as part of compounds like 労働時間 or 労働者 to use it correctly.

Duty of Labor

Remember that labor is a 'duty' in Japan. This cultural background explains why 労働 is used so much in government talk.

Kanji Balance

The kanji 働 is made of 人 (person) and 動 (move). If you remember 'a person moving,' you'll never forget how to write it.

News Keywords

If you hear 'rōdō' on the news, pay attention—it's likely a story about the economy or a new law that might affect you.

Avoid Drama

Saying 'Today's rōdō was hard' to your friends sounds like you're in a movie about coal miners. Use 'shigoto' instead.

Know Your Rights

If you work in Japan, knowing the word 労働基準法 (Labor Standards Act) is vital for protecting your rights.

HR Talk

In HR meetings, using terms like 労働生産性 (productivity) will make you sound much more professional.

Made in Japan

The character 働 is a Japanese invention. It reflects the unique Japanese view on the relationship between people and work.

The 'Row' Mnemonic

A 'Row' of workers doing 'Dough' (Rōdō) is a quick way to link the sound to the meaning of labor.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Row' of 'Dough' makers. It takes a lot of 労働 (rōdō) to knead that much bread!

Visual Association

Imagine a person (人) moving (動) heavy boxes in a factory. That 'movement' is the core of the character 働.

Word Web

仕事 (Work) 工場 (Factory) 給料 (Salary) 法律 (Law) 時間 (Time) 組合 (Union) 権利 (Rights) 生産 (Production)

Challenge

Try to find 労働 in a Japanese news headline today. It's almost certainly there if the topic is the economy!

Word Origin

The word 労働 is a Sinitic compound (kango). The first kanji '労' (rou) comes from a character meaning 'toil' or 'burning out' (originally showing fire over a roof). The second kanji '働' (dou) is a Japanese-made character (kokuji) that combines the 'person' radical (人) with 'move' (動).

Original meaning: The original meaning combines the concept of intense, burning effort (労) with human movement (働).

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'forced labor' (強制労働) in a historical context, as it is a sensitive political topic in East Asia.

In English, 'labor' often sounds more physical or political (like the Labor Party). In Japanese, 労働 is the standard formal term for all types of work in a systemic sense.

The Labor Standards Act (労働基準法) - The foundation of Japanese workplace law. May Day (メーデー) - Celebrated as 労働祭 (Labor Festival) by unions. Work Style Reform (働き方改革) - A major government initiative using 'rōdō' in its documents.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a Job Interview

労働条件について伺いたいです。
1日の平均労働時間はどのくらいですか？
労働契約の内容を確認させてください。
適切な労働環境が整っていますか？

News / Economy

労働力不足が深刻化しています。
労働生産性の向上が課題です。
労働市場の流動性が高まっています。
外国人労働者の受け入れが議論されています。

Legal / HR

労働基準法に準拠しています。
労働組合との交渉を行います。
労働災害の防止に努めます。
労働契約法に基づいた対応です。

Sociology / Philosophy

労働の価値を再定義する必要があります。
労働は人間の尊厳に関わります。
自動化が進む中での労働のあり方。
労働の疎外について研究しています。

Daily Formal Conversation

肉体労働は大変ですが、やりがいがあります。
労働時間の管理は自分で行っています。
知的労働に従事する人が増えています。
労働のあとのビールは最高です。

Conversation Starters

"あなたの国の労働時間は、日本と比べてどうですか？ (How are the labor hours in your country compared to Japan?)"

"最近の「働き方改革」についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the recent 'Work Style Reform'?)"

"肉体労働と知的労働、どちらが自分に向いていると思いますか？ (Which do you think suits you better: manual labor or intellectual labor?)"

"労働組合はあなたの国でどのような役割を果たしていますか？ (What role do labor unions play in your country?)"

"将来、AIが人間の労働をすべて代行すると思いますか？ (Do you think AI will replace all human labor in the future?)"

Journal Prompts

今日の自分の労働（仕事や勉強）を振り返って、何を感じましたか？ (Reflect on your labor today (work or study). What did you feel?)

理想的な労働環境とはどのようなものか、詳しく書いてください。 (Write in detail about what an ideal labor environment looks like.)

「労働の喜び」を感じた経験について教えてください。 (Tell me about an experience where you felt the 'joy of labor.')

もし労働の義務がなくなったら、あなたは何をしますか？ (If the duty to labor disappeared, what would you do?)

自分の仕事（または将来の仕事）が社会にどのような労働力を提供しているか考察してください。 (Consider what kind of labor force your job (or future job) provides to society.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but usually in a sociological context like 'unpaid labor' (無償労働 - mushō rōdō). In daily life, you would just say 'kaji' (housework).

You can say 'rōdō shite imasu,' but it sounds very formal. 'Hataraite imasu' is the natural way to say 'I am working.'

A Black Company is one that forces 'unfair labor' (不当労働), such as extreme overtime without pay.

It implies someone who provides labor in exchange for wages. It is the formal word for an employee or worker.

It means 'labor force' or 'manpower.' It is used when talking about the number of people available to work in an economy.

Yes. While it can mean manual labor (肉体労働), it also covers intellectual labor (知的労働) like coding or writing.

勉強 (benkyō) is studying for learning. 労働 (rōdō) is working for production or wages. They are distinct concepts.

No, it is neutral. However, it is often used in discussions about 'overwork' or 'harsh conditions,' which can give it a heavy feeling.

It is called 勤労感謝の日 (Kinrō Kansha no Hi - Labor Thanksgiving Day), celebrated on November 23rd.

It is called 働き方改革 (Hatarakikata Kaikaku). It aims to change the 労働環境 (labor environment) in Japan to be more flexible and healthy.