繁忙・煩忙|はんぼうhanbou[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
繁忙繁忙 is the most common and standard form, written only in kanji; it is the form learners should choose when expressing this meaning.
煩忙煩忙 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 繁忙, so learners will seldom encounter it and should normally choose 繁忙 instead.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounbusy; high-stress; hectic; pressed (with business)
Conjugation
| Plain form | 繁忙（はんぼう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 繁忙です（はんぼうです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 繁忙ではない（はんぼうではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 繁忙ではありません（はんぼうではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 繁忙だった（はんぼうだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 繁忙ではなかった（はんぼうではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 繁忙で（はんぼうで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 繁忙に（はんぼうに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 繁忙なら（はんぼうなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym多忙たぼうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means being very busy, said mostly of people, as in 「ご多忙中」; 「繁忙」 leans toward busy business or periods.
- Synonym忙しいいそがしいNeutralRead せわしい. Means harried, with no free time, and carries a flustered, restless feel, as in 「せわしい人」; the usual word for a busy person is 「いそがしい」.
- Related慌ただしいあわただしいNeutralMeans flurried and hurried, as in 「慌ただしい年末」; leans toward the atmosphere rather than workload.
- RelatedせわしいNeutralRead せわしい. Means harried, with no free time, and carries a flustered, restless feel, as in 「せわしい人」; the usual word for a busy person is 「いそがしい」.
- RelatedせわしないNeutralMeans being hurried and restless; leans toward flustered, fidgety movements.
- Related忙しげせわしげNeutralDescribes someone who looks busy or restless; leans toward outward appearance.
- Related多端たたんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means having many affairs or matters on hand; used mostly in the set phrase 「多事多端」.
- Antonym閑散かんさんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means deserted, quiet or idle, the direct opposite of 「繁忙」.
- Antonym暇ひまNeutralMeans free time or being unoccupied; the everyday opposite of 「繁忙」.
For people, the default is 「忙しい（いそがしい）」; formal prose prefers 「多忙」. 「繁忙」 fits busy business, industries or periods, as in 「繁忙期」「繁忙を極める」. 「閑散」 is the written opposite for deserted, slack conditions; the rest describe harried moods, looks or many affairs.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
