Japanese Conversation · Level 23
90 words
Japanese word
遅れる
Pronunciation
Romajiokureru
Meaning
- verbbe late
Example
学校に遅れます。gak kō ni oku re ma su
I will be late for school.
More examples
友だちが遅れます。tomo da chi ga oku re ma su
My friend will be late.
交通事故で、バスが遅れました。kō tsū ji ko de ba su ga oku re ma shi ta
The bus was delayed because of a traffic accident.
Core concept
Describes someone or something falling behind the expected time or schedule.
Common phrases
学校に遅れるgak kō ni oku re ru
be late for school
約束に遅れるyaku soku ni oku re ru
be late for an appointment
遅れてすみませんoku re te su mi ma se n
sorry for being late
Similar words
遅刻するchikokusuru: To arrive late for a scheduled event or place.
遅延するchiensuru: To take longer than planned and run behind schedule.
Definition in Japanese
予定した時刻や進み具合よりあとになること。yo tei shi ta ji koku ya susu mi gu ai yo ri a to ni na ru ko to
Word origin
遅れる (okureru) is the modern form of the native verb 遅る (okuru), meaning "to be late" or "to fall behind".
Usage tips
- In everyday announcements, 電車が遅れる (densha ga okureru) describes a train that will not arrive on schedule, so the subject can be a person or a service.