テイカー
Meaning: A taker — someone who primarily takes from others at work, seeking personal benefit without reciprocating or contributing to the team.
The counterpart to ギバー in Adam Grant's framework, テイカー describes people who exploit the generosity of others. In Japanese workplaces, テイカー behavior might include taking credit for team work, never helping colleagues but always asking for help, or hoarding information for personal advantage. The concept gave Japanese workers a vocabulary to identify and discuss exploitative behavior that was previously hard to articulate.
Examples
- あの人、完全にテイカーだよ。人の手柄を横取りばっかり。 那个人完全是个索取者,总是抢别人的功劳。Esa persona es un taker total. Siempre se apropia del mérito ajeno.저 사람, 완전 テイカー(테이커)야. 남의 공을 가로채기만 해.
- テイカーに振り回されるのはもう嫌だ。 我受够了被索取者牵着鼻子走。Estoy harto de que los takers me manejen a su antojo.テイカー에게 휘둘리는 건 이제 질렸어.
- テイカーって気づかれると、周りから避けられるようになるよね。 索取者一旦被识破,就会被周围的人疏远。Cuando te pillan como taker, la gente empieza a evitarte.テイカー인 게 들키면 주변에서 피하게 되잖아.
Pronunciation
/te.i.ka.a/
Usage Guide
Context: workplace, self-improvement, social media
Tone: critical, analytical
✓ Do Say
- テイカーとは距離を置いた方がいいよ、消耗するから。 (You should keep your distance from takers — they'll drain you.)和索取者保持距离比较好,会被消耗的。(你应该和索取者保持距离——他们会消耗你的。)Mejor mantén las distancias con los takers — te desgastan.テイカー와는 거리를 두는 게 좋아, 소모되니까. (테이커와는 거리를 두는 게 좋아 — 기운이 빠지니까.)
- テイカーかどうかは、困った時の態度で分かるよね。 (You can tell if someone's a taker by how they act when you're in trouble.)一个人是不是索取者,看他在你遇到困难时的态度就知道了。(看一个人遇到你有困难时的反应,就能判断他是不是索取者。)Se nota si alguien es un taker por cómo actúa cuando tú tienes problemas.テイカー인지 아닌지는 곤란할 때의 태도를 보면 알 수 있지. (누가 테이커인지는 네가 곤란할 때 그 사람의 태도를 보면 알 수 있어.)
✗ Don't Say
- 自分がテイカーだと気づかずに使ってると恥ずかしい (It's embarrassing to use this term without realizing you might be the taker)没意识到自己就是索取者却到处用这个词的话很丢人(用这个词的时候没意识到自己可能就是索取者的话,会很尴尬)Es vergonzoso usar este término sin darte cuenta de que tú mismo podrías ser el taker.자기가 テイカー인 줄도 모르고 이 용어를 쓰면 민망하다 (자신이 테이커일 수도 있다는 자각 없이 쓰면 부끄러운 일이다)
Common Mistakes
- Labeling everyone who asks for help as a テイカー — asking for help is normal and healthy
- Using テイカー in formal HR discussions — it's more of a casual analysis framework
Origin & History
From English 'taker,' popularized alongside ギバー by Adam Grant's 'Give and Take.' The Japanese translation's success in the mid-2010s made テイカー a recognized workplace personality type.
Cultural Context
Era: Mid-2010s popularization via Adam Grant's book
Generation: Business-minded adults, self-improvement enthusiasts
Social background: Corporate workers
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Always discussed in contrast with ギバー and マッチャー.
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