Japanese word

奴隷

Pronunciation

Romajidorei

Meaning

  • nounslave

Example

昔、奴隷には自由がありませんでした。mukashi do rei ni wa ji yū ga a ri ma se n de shi ta

In the past, slaves did not have freedom.

Illustration for 奴隷 (slave)

More examples

その国では、奴隷が法律によって解放されました。so no kuni de wa do rei ga hō ritsu ni yo tte kai hō sa re ma shi ta

In that country, the slaves were freed by law.

Core concept

Describes a person whose freedom is taken away and whose labor is controlled by another person or group.

Common phrases

  • 奴隷制度do rei sei do

    slavery

  • 奴隷労働do rei rō dō

    slave labor

  • 奴隷を解放するdo rei o kai hō su ru

    free a slave

Similar words

召使いmeshitsukai: A person freely employed to perform household duties for another person.
奴僕doboku: A male servant who works for another person, often in an older social setting.
奴婢dohi: A male or female slave in an older social system.

Definition in Japanese

自分の意思で生活や仕事を選ぶ自由を持たず、他人の所有物として扱われ、強制的に働かされる人。ji bun no i shi de sei katsu ya shi goto o era bu ji yū o mo ta zu ta nin no sho yū butsu to shi te atsuka wa re kyō sei teki ni hatara ka sa re ru hito

Word origin

The compound 奴隷 (dorei, "slave") combines 奴 (do, "slave or servant") and 隷 (rei, "subordinate"), using Sino-Japanese readings.

Usage tips

  • English distinguishes a slave from a servant: a servant is freely employed, while a slave is denied personal freedom and treated as property.

Opposites

  • 自由人jiyūninfree personnoun

Related words

  • 奴隷制doreiseislaverynoun
  • 奴隷化doreikaenslavementnoun

Word lists with this word