ゆとり
Meaning: The 'relaxed education' generation — people who grew up under Japan's reduced-curriculum education policy, often used as a mildly derogatory label.
ゆとり教育 (relaxed education) was a policy reducing school hours and curriculum from the late 1990s to 2010s. The label ゆとり世代 (yutori generation) became shorthand for 'soft,' 'lazy,' or 'lacking common sense.' For older generations, it is a convenient scapegoat for perceived social decline. For younger people, it is an irritating stereotype they must constantly deflect. The term is increasingly used self-deprecatingly or ironically.
Examples
- 「ゆとり世代だから」って言い訳にされるの本当に嫌だ。 被人拿'因为是宽松世代嘛'当借口说事儿,真的很讨厌。Que me usen como excusa diciendo «es que es de la generación yutori» me sienta fatal.유토리 세대라서'라고 핑계 대는 거 정말 싫다.
- ゆとり教育のせいにするのは簡単だけど、実態は違うと思う。 把什么都怪到宽松教育头上很容易,但实际情况并非如此。Es fácil echarle la culpa a la educación relajada, pero creo que la realidad es otra.유토리 교육 탓으로 돌리기는 쉽지만, 실상은 다르다고 생각해.
- 上司にゆとりだなって言われてめっちゃムカついた。 被上司说了句'你果然是宽松世代啊',气死了。Mi jefe me dijo «es que eres yutori» y me cabreé muchísimo.상사한테 '유토리구나'라는 말 듣고 엄청 빡쳤어.
Pronunciation
/ju.to.ri/
Usage Guide
Context: workplace, generational discussions, social media
Tone: dismissive, sometimes ironic
✓ Do Say
- ゆとり世代って言うけどちゃんと頑張ってるよ (They call us the yutori generation but we're working hard)虽然叫我们宽松世代,但我们也在认真努力啊(They call us the yutori generation but we're working hard)Nos llaman la generación yutori, pero estamos currando de lo lindo (They call us the yutori generation but we're working hard)유토리 세대라고 하지만 다들 열심히 하고 있어 (유토리 세대라 불리지만 우리도 열심히 한다고)
- ゆとりって言葉自体がもう古いよね (The word yutori itself is already outdated)宽松世代这个词本身都已经过时了吧(The word yutori itself is already outdated)La palabra yutori en sí ya está anticuada, ¿no? (The word yutori itself is already outdated)유토리라는 말 자체가 이제 옛말이지 (유토리라는 단어 자체가 이미 구시대적이야)
✗ Don't Say
- 初対面の人に「ゆとり世代でしょ?」は決めつけすぎ (Saying 'you're the yutori generation, right?' to someone you just met is too presumptuous)初次见面就说'你是宽松世代吧?'太武断了(Saying 'you're the yutori generation, right?' to someone you just met is too presumptuous)Decirle «tú eres de la generación yutori, ¿no?» a alguien que acabas de conocer es pasarse de listo (Saying 'you're the yutori generation, right?' to someone you just met is too presumptuous)처음 만나는 사람에게 '유토리 세대죠?'라고 하면 너무 단정적이다 (처음 보는 사람에게 '유토리 세대지?'라고 하면 지나치게 결정짓는 것이다)
Common Mistakes
- Using ゆとり as a genuine insult rather than recognising it as a generational stereotype that most people find unfair
- Not knowing the specific birth years (roughly 1987-2004) that define the ゆとり世代
Origin & History
From ゆとり教育 (yutori kyōiku, relaxed education), an education policy implemented from the late 1990s through 2010s that reduced school hours and curriculum content. The policy was reversed after criticism that it produced academically weaker students.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s-2010s generational label, now fading
Generation: Born roughly 1987-2004 (ゆとり世代), discussed by all ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the most debated generational labels in recent Japanese history.
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