freeter

n. a person who takes a series of temporary jobs; a job-hopper, temp worker, or freelancer. Also freeta. Subjects: English-derived, German, Japanese, Korean, Japan, South Korea, Business, Employment

Etymological Note: free + Ger. arbeit ‘work’

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Citations: 1989 Minoru Koshida @ Tokyo (Reuters) (Sept. 22) “More Japan College Graduates Rebel Against Jobs For Life”: Kato worked for a trading firm for about two years after he graduated from college with a major in law in 1982, but decided to quit when he realised he could take time off anytime he wanted and have larger pay cheques if he became what is known in Japan as a “freeter”. “Freeter” is a combination of the English word “free” and the Japanese word “arubaito” meaning part-time, casual or temporary work. 1999 Tim Larimer et al. Time Asia (May 3) “From We To Me” vol. 153, no. 17, p. 18: If he can’t find what he’s looking for, he’s happy to take a part-time job and join the growing ranks of freetas. 2001 New York Times (Oct. 16) “Young Japanese Breaking Old Salaryman’s Bonds” (in Tokyo) p. A3: The advantage of being a “freeter” is that if you mised the shift, the responsibility falls on the person who hired you. 2004 JoonAng Daily (Seoul, South Korea) (June 4) “They pay you to do what?”: Some young people choose to live on a series of part-time jobs rather than look for a permanent one. In the local vernacular, they’re called “freeters,” a combination of “free” and “arbeiter,” which is German for “worker.” 2005 Deirdre Van Dyk Time (U.S.) (Jan. 24) “Parlez-Vous Twixter?”: Japan: Freeter The term, a combination of free and arbeiter, the German word for worker, describes an unmarried young adult who job hops and lives at home. The trend has even been debated in parliament.

Posted 15 Jun 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Someone has probably noted that Japanese “arubaito” is very likely a phonetic rendering of German “Arbeiter”— so that both suggested derivations are right.

by Ben Teague 26 Dec 06, 0109 GMT