バリキャリ

• 読み: バリキャリ
• ローマ字: barikyari
• 漢字の分解: From バリバリ (vigorously) + キャリア (career) → abbreviated compound バリキャリ
• 発音: /ba.ɾi.kja.ɾi/

意味

A career-driven woman who works intensely — combining バリバリ (vigorously) and キャリア (career).

バリキャリ describes a woman who is deeply committed to her career, works long hours, and prioritises professional success. The term can be admiring (praising her ambition and competence) or carry subtle social commentary about women who 'choose career over family' in Japan's still-traditional gender landscape. It is often contrasted with ゆるキャリ (yurukyari, a relaxed career woman who prioritises work-life balance).

例文

1. あの先輩バリキャリだから毎日終電で帰ってるよ。
2. バリキャリに憧れるけど体力的にきつそう。
3. バリキャリの友達、30代で役員になったんだって。

使い方ガイド

場面: casual conversation, workplace talk, social media, lifestyle discussions

トーン: admiring, sometimes loaded

正しい言い方

• バリキャリの人ってかっこいいよね。 (Career women are so cool.)
• 彼女バリキャリだから予定合わせるの大変。 (She's a career woman so it's hard to match schedules.)

避ける言い方

• 本人に直接「バリキャリですね」 (Calling someone バリキャリ directly can feel reductive — it labels them by career over personality)

よくある間違い

• Using バリキャリ for men — the term is specifically used for women; for men, バリバリ働く is used instead
• Not sensing the nuance — depending on tone, バリキャリ can be admiring or imply the person has sacrificed personal life

起源と歴史

Compound abbreviation of バリバリ (baribari, 'vigorously/energetically') + キャリア (kyaria, 'career') → バリキャリ. Emerged in the 2000s-2010s as discussions about women in the workforce and work-life balance gained prominence.

文化的背景

時代: 2000s-2010s, tied to gender and workplace discussions

世代: Millennials and older Gen Z

社会的背景: Urban professional women

地域メモ: Used across Japan. Reflects ongoing social discourse about women's roles in the Japanese workplace.