1.
overtime hours; hours of overtime work
The number of hours worked beyond regular working hours. A frequent topic in Japanese workplace discussions, especially regarding work-life balance and the legal cap on overtime.
Compound of 残業 (overtime) + 時間 (hours, time). A central topic in discussions of Japanese working conditions and work-style reform (働き方改革).
Common collocations
- 残業時間が長い: have long overtime hours
- 残業時間を減らす: to reduce overtime hours
- 残業時間の上限: cap on overtime
- 月の残業時間: monthly overtime hours
Cultural note
Japanese labor law caps overtime at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year in principle, with stricter limits introduced by the 2019 work-style reform. Excessive overtime is associated with the social problem of 過労死 (death from overwork).