農民
nōmin[no̞ːmʲĩɴ]
The English phrase 'peasant' can be translated into Japanese using several terms, most commonly 農民 (nōmin). Wiktionary also lists 小作人 (kosakunin) and 農夫 (nōfu).
Meaning: member of the agriculture low class (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 農民 | nōmin | [no̞ːmʲĩɴ] (narrow) |
| 小作人 | kosakunin | |
| 農夫 | nōfu | [no̞ːɸɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 小百姓 | kobyakushō | [ko̞bʲa̠kɯ̟ɕo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 百姓 | hyakushō | [ça̠kɯ̟̊ɕo̞ː] (narrow) [ha̠kɯ̟se̞ː] (narrow) |
農民 is the standard way to refer to a farmer or an agricultural worker.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 百姓 literally means 'one hundred people' and historically referred to the common people or peasantry.
Which one should you use?
農民 is the standard, neutral term for a person engaged in agriculture. In contrast, 百姓 is often used in a derogatory or condescending way to refer to someone as a low-class peasant. If you need to be specific about a person's status, 小作人 refers specifically to a tenant farmer who works on land owned by someone else. 農夫 and 小百姓 are also forms used for peasants.
How do you pronounce it?
nōmin
Did you know?
- During the Edo period, the government officially categorized 百姓 as the second-highest class in the four-tier social hierarchy, ranking them above artisans and merchants.
- In modern Japanese, calling someone a 百姓 in a city can be a harsh way of calling them 'uncultured' or 'rustic' regardless of their actual job.
- The term 農民 gained prominence during the Meiji era when Japan modernized its social structure to move away from the strict feudal caste system.
Examples in context
- 私は貧しい農民に過ぎない。I am nothing but a poor peasant.This sentence demonstrates the use of 農民 to describe a person's social or economic standing.Tatoeba #153068 by bunbuku, translation #261476 by CC
- きさま、百姓の生まれだな？You are from a peasant family, aren't you?This sentence shows how 百姓 can be used in a confrontational or derogatory manner.
- 百姓にとっては花より果が大切である。For the peasant, fruits are more important than flowers.This sentence illustrates a perspective or value system associated with the term 百姓.Tatoeba #589712 by Scott, translation #589713 by Scott
- 昔の日本では、多くの百姓が田畑を耕していた。In old Japan, many peasants cultivated the fields.
- 江戸時代には、百姓たちは領主のもとで働いていた。During the Edo period, peasants worked under feudal lords.
- 田舎にはたくさんの農民が住んでいる。In the countryside, many farmers live.
- 農民の生活は厳しいが、豊かさも感じることができる。The life of a farmer is hard, but one can also experience richness.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are discussing a history book about old Japan.
- 美咲 Misakiこの本には、当時の農民の生活が書いてあるよ。Kono hon ni wa, tōji no nōmin no seikatsu ga kaite aru yo.This book describes the lives of peasants at that time.
- 大翔 Hiroto当時の農民は、とても厳しい生活をしていたんだね。Tōji no nōmin wa, totemo kibishii seikatsu o shite ita n da ne.The peasants of that era lived very harsh lives, didn't they?
- 美咲 Misakiうん。税金が高くて、大変だったみたい。Un. Zeikin ga takakute, taihen datta mitai.Yeah. It seems it was hard because taxes were high.
- 大翔 Hiroto歴史を学ぶと、いろいろなことがわかるね。Rekishi o manabu to, iroiro na koto ga wakaru ne.Learning history helps you understand many things.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peasant” translations and entries 農民, 農夫, 小百姓, 百姓, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
