Word
karoshi
Phoneticskaroshi
/kəˈɹoʊʃi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a Japanese word for death caused by working too many hours. It usually happens because of a heart attack or stroke brought on by extreme stress and lack of sleep.
n. death resulting from occupational sudden cardiac arrest or stroke due to severe overwork and stress. A loanword from Japanese, it is used in sociological and medical contexts to describe the phenomenon of fatal exhaustion.
Examples
“The government is trying to pass laws to prevent karoshi.”
“After the young employee died from a heart attack following months of overtime, the media labeled it a case of karoshi.”
“Sociologists argue that karoshi is not merely a medical condition but a systemic byproduct of a corporate culture that prioritizes extreme loyalty and long hours over individual well-being.”
Examples
simple
“The government is trying to pass laws to prevent karoshi.”
contextual
“After the young employee died from a heart attack following months of overtime, the media labeled it a case of karoshi.”
complex
“Sociologists argue that karoshi is not merely a medical condition but a systemic byproduct of a corporate culture that prioritizes extreme loyalty and long hours over individual well-being.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “karoshi” in context.
Verb
01. combat karoshi
“The government introduced reforms to combat karoshi and reduce excessive hours.”
verb + noun
02. die from karoshi
“The young reporter died from karoshi after logging 159 hours of overtime.”
verb + prep + noun
03. investigate karoshi
“Authorities will investigate karoshi when staff exceed 100 hours of overtime.”
verb + noun
04. karoshi claims
“Karoshi claims hundreds of lives in Japan every year despite labour reforms.”
noun + verb
05. karoshi highlights
“Karoshi highlights the deadly consequences of unchecked overtime culture.”
noun + verb
06. prevent karoshi
“Strict limits on overtime are essential to prevent karoshi in high-pressure industries.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. high-profile karoshi
“A high-profile karoshi at a major ad agency forced Japan to reform labour laws.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. case of karoshi
“Each certified case of karoshi must be compensated under Japanese labour law.”
noun + prep + noun
09. fear of karoshi
“Fear of karoshi has led many young workers to reject overtime-heavy jobs.”
noun + prep + noun
10. at risk of karoshi
“Junior doctors working 80-hour weeks are at risk of karoshi.”
11. high-profile case of karoshi
“The Dentsu tragedy remains the most high-profile case of karoshi in Japan.”
12. raise awareness of karoshi
“Campaigners seek to raise awareness of karoshi among foreign workers.”
Usage
Typically used as a loanword in English to refer specifically to the Japanese cultural phenomenon.
Real-World Examples
“The young engineer fell victim to the Japanese phenomenon of "karoshi," or death from overwork.” Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 過労死 (karōshi), the term is a compound of 過労 (karō, “overwork”) and 死 (shi, “death”). It is a doublet of the Mandarin guolaosi and the Korean gwarosa.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
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