How to say "sluggish" in Japanese

• だるいJLPT N1approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers the feeling sense of sluggish: languid, listless, or heavy with fatigue, in body or spirits. Typical when your body or heart feels heavy, as after illness or a sleepless night.
  だるいし頭あたまがずきずきする。↗

  I feel listless and have a throbbing headache.
• 低調ていちょうCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes activity, business, or performance that is inactive, slow, and slack — sluggish in the sense of lackluster, not of a tired body. Typical of sluggish sales or a slack public response.
  今いまの太陽たいようの活動かつどうは低調ていちょうですが、それでも時々ときどき大おおきな黒点こくてんが現あらわれます。↗

  The sun is currently in a period of low activity but even so large sunspots occasionally appear.
• 緩慢かんまんCommon
  na-adjective, nounDescribes movement, action, or pace that is slow, dull, and sluggish — the motion or pace itself rather than a person's tired feelings. Typical of sluggish motions or a slow pace of activity.
  コンピューターは、たとえ緩慢かんまんにせよ大おおきな変化へんかを引き起ひきおこした。↗

  Computers caused a great, if gradual, change.
• のろいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveDescribes a person, animal, or action that is slow and sluggish — moving or acting in a lethargic, inert way. Use it for sluggish speed of movement or action, not for tired feelings.
  大おおきくて、のろくて、無口むくちでした。↗

  He was big and slow and silent.

Choose 「だるい」 for feeling sluggish in body or spirits, 低調 for sluggish activity or business, 緩慢 for slow, sluggish movement or pace, and 「のろい」 for a person or animal that moves or acts slowly.

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

• だるいsluggish
• 低調ていちょうinactive
• 緩慢かんまんslow
• だりぃsluggish
• もっさりslow
• まどろっこしい(frustratingly) slow
• かったるいlistless
• まだるい(frustratingly) slow
• 不活発ふかっぱつdull
• まだるっこい(frustratingly) slow
• まだるっこしい(frustratingly) slow
• まどろっこい(frustratingly) slow
• 間延びしたまのびしたslow
• 重いおもいslow
• のろいslow
• とろいslow
• 鈍重どんじゅうslow (of one's movements)
• 手ぬるいてぬるいslow
• 鈍いにぶいslow