ワークライフバランス
wāku raifu baransu
The English phrase "work-life balance" is translated into Japanese as ワークライフバランス (wāku raifu baransu).
ワークライフバランス is a katakana loanword and serves as the standard term used in professional, media and governmental contexts in Japan to discuss the equilibrium between professional duties and personal life.
Meaning: working time (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ワークライフバランス is the standard loanword, the formal phrase 仕事と生活の調和 can also be used, which means "Harmonizing work and life."
How do you pronounce it?
wāku raifu baransu
Did you know?
- While ワークライフバランス is common in offices, Japanese society has a long-standing cultural concept called karoshi, which refers to death caused by overworking from mental and physical stress.
- Japan has introduced laws to mandate a maximum number of overtime hours, but some employees use service zangyo to describe unpaid overtime done 'as a service' to the company.
- While ワークライフバランス is common, you may encounter the term 働き方改革 (hatarakikata kaikaku), which translates to 'work-style reform'.
Examples in context
- 最近、仕事と生活の調和がうまく取れていない気がします。Recently, I feel like I haven't been able to achieve a good work-life balance.
- 最近、ワークライフバランスが難しいんだよね。Lately, maintaining a work-life balance has been challenging.
- ワークライフバランスを大切にしたいです。wāku raifu baransu o taisetsu ni shitai desu.I want to value my work-life balance.
- 最近、ワークライフバランスが取れていますか？saikin, wāku raifu baransu ga torete imasu ka?Have you been able to maintain a work-life balance lately?
- ワークライフバランスが悪いと、疲れてしまいます。wāku raifu baransu ga warui to, tsukarete shimaimasu.If the work-life balance is bad, I get exhausted.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are chatting during a coffee break at the office.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さんは、ワークライフバランスはどうですか？Youta-san wa, wāku raifu baransu wa dou desu ka?Youta, how is your work-life balance?
- 陽太 Yota仕事が忙しくて、なかなか難しいですね。Shigoto ga isogashikute, nakanaka muzukashii desu ne.Work is busy, so it's quite difficult.
- 陽葵 Himari無理をしないで、休んでくださいね。Muri o shinaide, yasunde kudasai ne.Please don't overdo it and make sure to rest.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます、陽葵さん。Arigatou gozaimasu, Himari-san.Thank you, Himari.
