Japanese word

怠ける

Pronunciation

Romajinamakeru

Meaning

  • verbbe lazy

Example

休日は怠けます。kyū jitsu wa nama ke ma su

I am lazy on my days off.

Illustration for 怠ける (be lazy)

More examples

試験が近いのに、彼は怠けています。shi ken ga chika i no ni kare wa nama ke te i ma su

He is being lazy even though the exam is near.

Core concept

Describes choosing not to put effort into an activity, often by relaxing or putting off what needs to be done.

Common phrases

  • 仕事を怠けるshi goto o nama ke ru

    slack off at work

  • 勉強を怠けるben kyō o nama ke ru

    slack off on studying

Similar words

サボるsaboru: To deliberately avoid a duty, activity, or class.
だらけるdarakeru: To lose discipline and spend time without doing what needs to be done.
ぐうたらするgūtarasuru: To spend time idly without making the effort that a task requires.

Definition in Japanese

するべきことをしないで、だらだらと過ごす。su ru be ki ko to o shi na i de da ra da ra to su go su

Word origin

怠ける (namakeru) is a native Japanese verb whose exact origin is uncertain, while its usual kanji 怠 (tai, "neglect") provides a clear meaning clue rather than a sound-based one.

Usage tips

  • When speakers use 怠ける (namakeru) about a person, the word can sound mildly critical because it suggests that the person is not doing something that should be done.

Other meanings

  • slack offverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 怠け者namakemonolazy personnoun
  • 怠けnamakelazinessnoun

Word lists with this word