奴隷貿易
dorei bōeki
The English phrase "slave trade" is translated into Japanese as 奴隷貿易 (dorei bōeki).
奴隷貿易 is used to refer to the traffic in slaves.
Meaning: traffic in slaves (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
奴隷貿易 is a compound of 奴隷, meaning "slave" and 貿易, meaning "trade" or "commerce".
Which one should you use?
奴隷貿易 is a formal term for slave trade. 奴隷売買 is a formal alternative that specifically emphasizes the aspect of buying and selling slaves. 人身売買 can be used to refer to the act of trading slaves, but it is more commonly used for human trafficking.
How do you pronounce it?
dorei bōeki
Did you know?
- The character 奴 (do/yatsu) used in 奴隷 is also a common way to refer to a 'guy' or 'fellow' in very informal, often rude, masculine speech.
- The word 貿易 in 奴隷貿易 is the same word used for modern 'global commerce', creating a stark linguistic contrast between high-level economics and human suffering.
- While 奴隷 means 'slave', the word can also be used metaphorically in Japanese to describe someone who is 'enslaved' to a habit, such as being ギャンブルの奴隷 or 'a slave to gambling'.
Examples in context
- 奴隷貿易の歴史を学ぶTo learn about the history of slave trade
- 最近奴隷取引の問題が増えているRecently, the issue of slave trade has been increasing.
- 奴隷貿易は歴史上の悲劇です。doreibōeki wa rekishijō no higeki desu.The slave trade is a tragedy of history.
- 彼は奴隷貿易について研究しています。kare wa doreibōeki ni tsuite kenkyū shite imasu.He is researching the slave trade.
- 奴隷貿易が世界に与えた影響は大きいです。doreibōeki ga sekai ni ataeta eikyō wa ookii desu.The impact the slave trade had on the world is huge.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are discussing a history textbook in a library.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵、この奴隷貿易のページを読んでみて。Himari, kono dorei bōeki no pēji o yonde mite.Himari, try reading this page about the slave trade.
- 陽葵 Himari本当にひどい歴史だったのね。Hontō ni hidoi rekishi datta no ne.It really was a terrible history.
- 蓮 Renうん、世界中で行われていたんだよ。Un, sekaijū de okonawarete itanda yo.Yeah, it was happening all over the world.
- 陽葵 Himari詳しく勉強して、覚えておきたいわ。Kuwashiku benkyō shite, oboete okitai wa.I want to study it in detail and remember it.
