Japanese word

後回し

Pronunciation

Romajiatomawashi

Meaning

  • nounputting off

Example

私は宿題を後回しにします。watashi wa shuku dai o ato mawa shi ni shi ma su

I put off my homework.

Illustration for 後回し (putting off)

More examples

問題を後回しにせず、早めに話し合います。mon dai o ato mawa shi ni se zu haya me ni hana shi a i ma su

We discuss problems early instead of putting them off.

Core concept

Expresses the act of setting something aside for now so that it is dealt with at a later time.

Common phrases

  • 後回しにするato mawa shi ni su ru

    put off

  • 後回しになるato mawa shi ni na ru

    be put off

  • 後回しを避けるato mawa shi o sa ke ru

    avoid putting off

Similar words

先送りsakiokuri: The act of moving a task or decision to a later time.
先延ばしsakinobashi: The act of extending the time before something is done.
延期enki: The act of changing a planned event to a later time.
保留horyū: The act of keeping a matter undecided or inactive for now.

Definition in Japanese

するべき物事を先に扱わず、あとで行うようにすること。su ru be ki mono goto o saki ni atsuka wa zu a to de okona u yō ni su ru ko to

Word origin

The compound 後回し (atomawashi) joins 後 (ato, "later") with 回し (mawashi, "turning") to mean leaving a matter for later.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a simple postponement caused by a fixed schedule, 後回し (atomawashi) often suggests that a task is left undone while other matters are handled first.

Opposites

  • 前倒しmaedaoshimoving upnoun

Word lists with this word