How to say "builder" in Japanese

• ビルダ
  nounA loanword that corresponds directly to 'builder'. It is less common than the native terms, and for builders in the construction trade Japanese normally uses 建築業者 or 工務店 instead.
• 作り手つくりて
  nounCovers the 'maker; creator' sense: a person who makes or creates things, with a nuance of craftsmanship. It is not the word for builders in the construction trade.
• 建築業者けんちくぎょうしゃ
  nounA builder in the business sense: a company or firm whose trade is constructing buildings. Use it when talking about hiring or dealing with a construction business.
  ブラウン氏しは建築業けんちくぎょう者しゃと新あたらしい家いえを建たてる契約けいやくをした。↗

  Mr Brown contracted with the builder for a new house.
• 工務店こうむてん
  nounA building contractor or building firm, typically a small local company that builds houses; use it for the firm you commission to build your home.
• 工作員こうさくいんCommon
  nounDespite the gloss 'maker; builder; constructor', this word is really used for an agent or operative sent to carry out covert work; it is seldom the word you want for 'builder'.

For construction-trade builders choose 建築業者 or 工務店, the latter typically a small local firm; 「作り手」 covers makers and creators, 「ビルダ」 is a less common loanword, and 工作員 really means a covert operative, not a builder.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ビルダbuilder
• 作り手つくりてmaker
• 建築業者けんちくぎょうしゃbuilder
• 工務店こうむてんbuilding contractor
• 工作員こうさくいんmaker