How to say "prostitution" in Japanese

• 売春ばいしゅんCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe common word for prostitution as an activity, and the natural default when translating the English term; you will meet it in news reports, legal texts, and ordinary discussion.
• デリヘル
  nounAn abbreviated name for a call-girl business, so it touches prostitution only through that specific sense; use it when talking about this type of service, not for the general concept.
• 淫売いんばい
  nounA derogatory word that can mean prostitution or a prostitute; it carries open contempt, so keep it out of neutral speech — it belongs to insults and crude talk, not ordinary description.
• 切り売り主義きりうりしゅぎ
  nounA less common, abstract term that you will seldom need for prostitution; it does not serve as an ordinary name for the activity — use 売春 for that.
• 醜業しゅうぎょう
  nounRefers to prostitution as a shameful trade, and the wording itself passes that judgment; it is seldom a neutral choice, and 売春 is the plain word for the activity.

Choose 売春 for prostitution as a general activity; 「デリヘル」 names a particular call-girl business; 淫売 is a derogatory term; 「切り売り主義」 and 醜業 are less common words you will seldom need.

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

• 売春ばいしゅんprostitution
• デリヘルprostitution
• 淫売いんばいprostitution
• 切り売り主義きりうりしゅぎprostitution
• 醜業しゅうぎょうprostitution
• 売淫ばいいんprostitution
• デリバリーヘルスprostitution
• 売笑ばいしょうprostitution
• ファッションヘルスprostitution (in the guise of a massage service)
• 売色ばいしょくprostitution
• 性風俗せいふうぞくprostitution
• 売りうりprostitution