How to say "lazy" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 怠惰たいだna-adjective, nounCovers 'lazy' as a settled character trait: a person or way of living marked by idleness and avoidance of effort, indolent or slothful by disposition. Use it when calling someone lazy as a person.
- 適当てきとうna-adjective, nounCovers 'lazy' only as a manner of doing things: perfunctory, half-minded, sloppy effort rather than a lazy character. Seldom the word for 'lazy' itself — its core meaning is 'appropriate' — reserve it for half-hearted work.
Use 怠惰 for a person whose character is lazy or idle; use 適当 only for doing something in a lazy, perfunctory, sloppy way — it also means 'appropriate', so it is rarely the direct equivalent of 'lazy'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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