肩たたき

• 読み: かたたたき
• ローマ字: kata tataki
• 漢字の分解: 肩 (shoulder) + たたき (tapping/hitting) → shoulder tapping, metaphor for hinting someone should resign
• 発音: /ka.ta ta.ta.ki/

意味

A subtle hint or gentle push from management for an employee to resign voluntarily.

Literally meaning 'shoulder tapping,' this term refers to the indirect Japanese approach to encouraging unwanted employees to quit. Rather than directly firing someone (which is legally and culturally difficult in Japan), a manager might suggest early retirement, offer a severance package, or gradually reduce responsibilities. The practice reflects Japan's preference for indirect communication and face-saving in difficult workplace situations.

例文

1. 50歳を超えたら肩たたきに遭う可能性があるって聞いた。
2. 部長に肩たたきされたって、同僚が落ち込んでた。
3. 最近の肩たたきは、わざと暇な部署に異動させるパターンもあるらしい。

使い方ガイド

場面: workplace, news, casual conversation

トーン: serious, euphemistic

正しい言い方

• 肩たたきされたらどうする？ (What would you do if you got pushed to resign?)
• 最近、管理職への肩たたきが増えてるみたいだね。 (It seems like more managers are getting the tap on the shoulder lately.)

避ける言い方

• 本人に「肩たたきされたんでしょ？」と直接聞くのは失礼 (Asking someone directly 'you got pushed out, right?' is rude and insensitive)

よくある間違い

• Confusing with literal shoulder massage — the workplace meaning is about pressuring someone to quit
• Not understanding the legal nuance: 肩たたき exists because Japanese labor law makes direct firing very difficult

起源と歴史

Originally from the literal act of tapping someone's shoulder to get their attention. In the workplace context, it evolved to mean the act of subtly signaling to an employee that they should consider leaving. The euphemistic usage became widespread from the 1980s onward.

文化的背景

時代: 1980s onward, integral to Japanese employment culture

世代: Most relevant for mid-career and senior workers

社会的背景: Corporate workers, especially at large traditional companies

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Reflects the indirect communication style prevalent in Japanese corporate culture.