Japanese symbol for “laborer”
土方
どかた
Romaji: dokata
construction worker; laborer; labourer; navvy
In Japanese, laborer is 土方, read どかた (dokata).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n construction worker; laborer; labourer; navvy
Written forms: 土方. Readings: どかた、つちかた.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “laborer”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 夫 | ふ fu | (working) man; laborer |
| 人夫 | にんぷ ninpu | laborer (labourer); construction worker; coolie |
| 工夫 | こうふ koufu | labourer; laborer; workman |
| 労務者 | ろうむしゃ roumusha | laborer; labourer; workman |
| 人足 | にんそく ninsoku | coolie; laborer; labourer |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 土地 | とち tochi | plot of land; lot; soil |
| 土曜 | どよう doyou | Saturday |
| 領土 | りょうど ryoudo | territory; domain; dominion |
| 国土 | こくど kokudo | country; territory; domain |
| 土産 | みやげ miyage | local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while travelling |
| 土台 | どだい dodai | foundation; base; basis |
| 方法 | ほうほう houhou | method; way; manner |
| 一方 | いっぽう ippou | one (esp. of two); the other; one way |
See also: Chinese symbol for “laborer”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.