Japanese word

サボる

Pronunciation

Romajisaboru

Meaning

  • verbslack off

Example

今日は少しサボります。kyō wa suko shi sa bo ri ma su

I will slack off a little today.

Illustration for サボる (slack off)

More examples

毎日少しずつ続けて、トレーニングをサボらないようにしましょう。mai nichi suko shi zu tsu tsuzu ke te to rē ni n gu o sa bo ra na i yō ni shi ma shō

Let's keep training a little every day and avoid skipping it.

Core concept

Expresses choosing not to carry out a duty or planned activity, often by absenting oneself from it.

Common phrases

  • 授業をサボるju gyō o sa bo ru

    cut class

  • 学校をサボるgak kō o sa bo ru

    skip school

  • 仕事をサボるshi goto o sa bo ru

    slack off at work

  • 宿題をサボるshuku dai o sa bo ru

    slack off on homework

Similar words

怠けるnamakeru: To avoid work or effort instead of carrying out what is required.
怠るokotaru: To neglect a duty, task, or necessary action and leave it undone.
休むyasumu: To be away from work, school, or another activity for a period of time.
欠席するkessekisuru: To not attend a class, meeting, or other event that one is expected to attend.

Definition in Japanese

本来行うべき仕事や勉強を、故意に怠けて行わないこと。hon rai okona u be ki shi goto ya ben kyō o ko i ni nama ke te okona wa na i ko to

Word origin

サボる (saboru) was formed by adding the verb ending る (ru) to サボ (sabo), itself shortened from サボタージュ (sabotāju), a borrowing from French sabotage.

Usage tips

  • サボる (saboru) can describe missing a lesson or work shift as well as simply doing less than expected, so slack off does not cover every use.

Other meanings

  • skip workverb
  • cut classverb

Opposites

Related words

  • サボりsaborislacking offnoun
  • サボり癖saborikusehabit of slacking offnoun

Word lists with this word