Japanese word

ニート

Pronunciation

Romajinīto

Meaning

  • nounneet

Example

兄は今、ニートです。ani wa ima nī to de su

My older brother is a neet now.

Illustration for ニート (neet)

More examples

弟は一時期ニートでしたが、今は働いています。otōto wa ichi ji ki nī to de shi ta ga ima wa hatara i te i ma su

My younger brother was a neet for a while, but he works now.

Core concept

Describes someone who is currently engaged in none of the three main paths of education, employment, or vocational training.

Common phrases

  • ニートになるnī to ni na ru

    become a neet

  • ニートをやめるnī to o ya me ru

    stop being a neet

  • ニートのままでいるnī to no ma ma de i ru

    remain a neet

Similar words

無職mushoku: A person who has no job or regular occupation.
失業者shitsugyōsha: A person who has lost a job and is seeking another one.

Definition in Japanese

就学も就労も職業訓練もしていない人。shū gaku mo shū rō mo shoku gyō kun ren mo shi te i na i hito

Word origin

ニート (nīto, "a person not in education, employment, or training") is a Japanese borrowing of English NEET, formed from the initial letters of "not in education, employment or training."

Usage tips

  • The English acronym NEET is common in government and social research, while ordinary conversation more often uses a phrase such as "not in education or employment."

Opposites

  • 有職者yūshokushaemployed personnoun

Related words

  • ニート化nītokabecoming a neetnoun

Word lists with this word