窓際族
의미: A sidelined employee who has been given no meaningful work and essentially sits by the window doing nothing until retirement.
窓際族 describes employees — typically older men — who have been stripped of responsibilities but not fired, as Japanese companies traditionally avoid layoffs. They are literally or figuratively moved to desks by the window, with no tasks, no meetings, and no purpose. This practice stems from Japanese labor law making it difficult to terminate employees, so companies make conditions uncomfortable enough to encourage voluntary resignation. The concept reflects the dark side of lifetime employment.
예문
- 50代で窓際族にされたおじさんが毎日新聞読んでるだけだよ。 50多岁被弄成窗边族的大叔每天就是看看报纸。Al señor de cincuenta y tantos lo arrinconaron y se pasa el día leyendo el periódico.50대에 창가족이 된 아저씨가 매일 신문만 읽고 있어.
- 窓際族になるくらいなら早めに転職したほうがいい。 与其变成窗边族,还不如趁早跳槽。Antes de acabar arrinconado, mejor cambiar de empresa a tiempo.창가족이 될 바에는 일찍 이직하는 게 낫지.
- リストラできないから窓際族を作るって、日本の会社らしいよね。 因为不能裁员就制造窗边族,真是典型的日本企业做派。Como no pueden despedir a la gente, crean empleados arrinconados: muy típico de las empresas japonesas, ¿no?정리해고를 못 하니까 창가족을 만드는 게 일본 회사답지.
발음
/ma.do.ɡi.wa zo.ku/
사용 가이드
맥락: workplace, social commentary, career discussions
어조: sympathetic or critical
✓ 올바른 표현
- 窓際族って本人も辛いんだろうね。 (Being sidelined like that must be tough for the person too.)被这样边缘化,本人也很难受吧。(成为窗边族,当事人应该也很痛苦吧。)Ser un empleado arrinconado debe de ser duro también para la propia persona.창가족이 되면 본인도 힘들겠지. (그렇게 한직으로 밀리면 본인도 괴롭겠지.)
- あの部署、窓際族みたいな人が何人かいるらしい。 (Apparently there are a few sidelined employees in that department.)听说那个部门有好几个形同虚设的员工。(据说那个部门有好几个被边缘化的人。)Parece que en ese departamento hay varios empleados que están básicamente aparcados.그 부서에 창가족 같은 사람이 몇 명 있다더라. (그 부서에 한직에 밀린 직원이 몇 명 있다고 하더라.)
✗ 잘못된 표현
- 同僚に「窓際族でしょ」は絶対言わない (Never call a colleague a 'window-side employee' — deeply humiliating)绝对不能对同事说'你不就是窗边族嘛'——这是极大的羞辱(千万不要当面叫同事'窗边族'——非常伤人)Jamás llames a un compañero «empleado de ventana»: es profundamente humillante.동료에게 '창가족이지?'라고는 절대 말하지 말 것 (동료를 '창가족'이라고 부르는 것은 극도로 모욕적이다)
흔한 실수
- Thinking 窓際族 chose their situation — most were involuntarily sidelined as a form of pressure to quit
기원과 역사
Coined in the 1970s-1980s during Japan's economic growth period. Literally 'window-side tribe' — refers to employees pushed to window-side desks far from the action, given no work as a form of soft firing.
문화적 배경
Era: 1970s-1980s coinage, still relevant today
Generation: Known by all working-age adults, most commonly describes middle-aged to older workers
Social background: Large corporations with traditional employment practices
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Reflects the unique Japanese practice of soft-firing employees who can't be legally terminated.
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