Is "part-time work" an accurate translation of バイト?


The most common translation I see of バイト I see is "part-time work". However,
the contexts I see it used in seem to refer to [casual
work](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingent_work), as opposed to people
having a permanent job, merely with reduced hours, such as women with young
children (does this scenario not occur in Japan?).

Is "part-time work" a more accurate translation of バイト than "casual work"?




"Part-time work" is a valid translation of バイト/アルバイト but it certainly is not
the ONLY definition of the words. For instance, if a college student took a
year off from school and worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week to save money,
that would still be called バイト/アルバイト even though he worked 72 hours a week for
a year. Point is he was not a permanent employee.

The same goes for "casual work" that you mentioned. If one is not officially
hired as a "regular employee = [正社員]{せいしゃいん}" or "contract employee =
[契約社員]{けいやくしゃいん}", one is considered バイト/アルバイト. However, we have a very common
new word that describes this type of worker, フリーター. Unlike パート/バイト/アルバイト, the
new word expresses or at least implies a laid-back lifestyle with time for
hobbies.




"Part-time work" is a valid translation of バイト/アルバイト but it certainly is not
the ONLY definition of the words. For instance, if a college student took a
year off from school and worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week to save money,
that would still be called バイト/アルバイト even though he worked 72 hours a week for
a year. Point is he was not a permanent employee.

The same goes for "casual work" that you mentioned. If one is not officially
hired as a "regular employee = [正社員]{せいしゃいん}" or "contract employee =
[契約社員]{けいやくしゃいん}", one is considered バイト/アルバイト. However, we have a very common
new word that describes this type of worker, フリーター. Unlike パート/バイト/アルバイト, the
new word expresses or at least implies a laid-back lifestyle with time for
hobbies.

