ゆとり
Meaning in Englishreserve, affluence, time (to spare)
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Word context
What it means
ゆとり refers to the amount of space, time, or mental capacity available in a situation. It is the comfortable margin that reduces pressure and allows for reflection, planning, or rest.
Main meanings
- leeway or margin in time, money, or resources
- breathing space for thinking, planning, or rest
- a relaxed pace or lifestyle, especially in discussions about education or work culture
- in education, the idea of a lighter curriculum or slower tempo known as ゆとり教育
How to use it
Used as a noun to denote margin or breathing space; common in both formal and informal speech. It appears in phrases like ゆとりがある and ゆとりを持つ, and is frequently discussed in contexts of time management, budgeting, planning, and education.
Variants and close terms
- 余裕 — surplus/margin — yoyū
- 空き時間 — free time — akijikan
- ゆとり教育 — relaxed education — yutori kyōiku
Composition
- 余: remainder, surplus
- 裕: abundance, wealth
- 余裕: the combined sense of margin or breathing space
Etymology
Phonetic evolution From the kanji compound 余裕, the word uses its kun reading yutori; historically read よゆう (yoyū) in classical contexts, the modern pronunciation shifted to yutori as the sense expanded from surplus to breathing space.
Origin
Modern concept expanding in postwar Japan, gaining prominence in the late 20th century. It is closely associated with educational reform debates (ゆとり教育) and a broader cultural shift toward a slower, more comfortable lifestyle that tolerates a larger personal margin.
Word class
noun (名詞)