定時退社

• 読み: ていじたいしゃ
• ローマ字: teiji taisha
• 漢字の分解: 定 (fixed) + 時 (time) + 退 (retreat) + 社 (company) → leaving the company at the fixed time
• 発音: /te.i.dʑi ta.i.ɕa/

意味

Leaving work right at the scheduled end time without doing any overtime.

In a culture where staying late is often seen as dedication, 定時退社 carries a subtle rebelliousness. Younger workers increasingly embrace it as a healthy work-life balance practice, while older colleagues may view it with mild disapproval. It has become a rallying cry among work-style reform advocates and those resisting the 'stay late = hardworking' mentality.

例文

1. 今日は絶対定時退社する、ライブのチケットあるから。
2. 定時退社したいけど、周りがまだ仕事してると帰りづらいんだよね。
3. うちの会社、最近やっと定時退社が当たり前になってきた。

使い方ガイド

場面: workplace, casual conversation, social media

トーン: matter-of-fact, sometimes defiant

正しい言い方

• 今日こそ定時退社するぞ！ (I'm definitely leaving on time today!)
• 定時退社できる職場に転職してよかった。 (I'm glad I switched to a job where leaving on time is normal.)

避ける言い方

• 忙しい時期に「定時退社します」と宣言するのは空気が読めない (Announcing 'I'm leaving on time' during crunch periods shows a lack of social awareness)

よくある間違い

• Assuming 定時退社 is the norm in Japan — in many companies it still requires courage to leave on time
• Not understanding the cultural weight: saying it can imply you are prioritizing personal life over team obligations

起源と歴史

Compound of 定時 (scheduled time) and 退社 (leaving the office). Has existed as a formal term but gained cultural significance in the 2010s alongside work-style reform (働き方改革) movements.

文化的背景

時代: 2010s resurgence with work-style reform movement

世代: All working-age, championed by younger workers

社会的背景: Office workers across company sizes

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Acceptance varies greatly by company culture and industry.