Japanese word

フリーター

Pronunciation

Romajifurītā

Meaning

  • nounpart-time worker

Example

弟は卒業後、フリーターになりました。otōto wa sotsu gyō go fu rī tā ni na ri ma shi ta

My younger brother became a part-time worker after graduating.

Illustration for フリーター (part-time worker)

More examples

卒業後、彼はしばらくフリーターとして働いていました。sotsu gyō go kare wa shi ba ra ku fu rī tā to shi te hatara i te i ma shi ta

After he graduated, he worked part-time for a while.

Core concept

Refers to supporting oneself through flexible, nonregular employment without entering a conventional full-time career.

Common phrases

  • フリーターになるfu rī tā ni na ru

    become a part-time worker

  • フリーターとして働くfu rī tā to shi te hatara ku

    work as a part-time worker

Definition in Japanese

正規の職に就かず、アルバイトや臨時の仕事を主な収入源として暮らす人。sei ki no shoku ni tsu ka zu a ru ba i to ya rin ji no shi goto o omo na shū nyū gen to shi te ku ra su hito

Word origin

The coined term フリーター (furītā) derives from フリーアルバイター (furī arubaitā), a combination of フリー (furī, "free") and アルバイター (arubaitā, "worker"), based on German Arbeiter ("worker").

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, アルバイト (arubaito) refers to the job itself, while フリーター (furītā) labels the worker as a social category.

Opposites

  • 正社員seishainfull-time employeenoun

Word lists with this word