フリーター

ふりーたー
noun
freeter; part-time worker
1. freeter; part-time worker
A person who makes a living from temporary or part-time jobs rather than full-time employment.
卒業後(そつぎょうご)フリーターになった。
I became a freeter after graduating.
フリーターから正社員(せいしゃいん)になりたい。
I want to become a full-time employee from being a freeter.
フリーター生活(せいかつ)を続(つづ)けている。
I'm continuing to live as a freeter.

フリーター is a Japanese coinage from "free" + アルバイター (from German "Arbeiter," worker). The term emerged in the late 1980s.

SOCIAL CONTEXT:
Some choose this lifestyle for flexibility or while pursuing dreams (music, acting). However, it can also indicate difficulty entering the regular job market, especially after Japan's economic downturn. Being a long-term フリーター carries some social stigma, as 正社員(せいしゃいん) (full-time employment) is considered the standard career path.

RELATED EMPLOYMENT TERMS:

  • 正社員(せいしゃいん): full-time regular employee
  • 派遣(はけん)社員(しゃいん): temporary/dispatch worker
  • 契約(けいやく)社員(しゃいん): contract employee
  • アルバイト: part-time job
  • ニート: NEET (not in education, employment, or training)

Related Words

Antonym: 正社員(せいしゃいん) (full-time regular employee)
Related: アルバイト (part-time job)
Related: 派遣(はけん)社員(しゃいん) (dispatch worker)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:18 · Revised 2026.4.14 19:22
05500/05606_furiitaa