How to say "late" in Japanese

• 遅くおそく
  adverb, nounThe adverbial counterpart of 遅い, for when 'late' tells when an action happens — staying up late, leaving work late, staying out until late. Less common than the adjective itself.
• レイト
  prenominal modifierA katakana borrowing of 'late'; in ordinary sentences 遅い is the usual choice, and this loanword is seldom what you want, turning up mainly in set borrowed expressions.
• 亡きなき
  pre-noun adjectivalThe 'late' that means deceased, as in 'the late Mr. Tanaka' or 'one's late father'; a formal or literary way to speak of someone who has died.
  ある女性じょせいが、帽子ぼうしをかぶって写うつっている亡なき旦那だんなの写真しゃしんをカメラマンの元もとへ持もっていった。↗

  A woman brought an old picture of her dead husband, wearing a hat, to the photographer.
• 遅いおそいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe common, all-purpose adjective for 'late': arriving late, a late hour, a late train, or realizing it is now too late. Start here for the ordinary time and tardiness senses.
  ジムの父ちちはいつも帰宅きたくが遅おそい。↗

  Jim's father always comes home late.

Choose 「遅い」 for ordinary 'late' of time and tardiness, 「遅く」 for the adverbial use, 「亡き」 for 'late' meaning deceased, and 「レイト」, a katakana borrowing you will seldom need.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 遅くおそくlate
• レイトlate
• 亡きなきdeceased
• いい時間いいじかん(getting) late
• 遅いおそいlate
• 深いふかいlate
• 院いんformer (esp. of emperors, daimyos, etc.)