遅い|おそいosoi[0]heiban (flat)

1. i-adjectiveslowocc. written as 鈍い
   彼女かのじょは走はしるのが遅おそい。↗

   She is a slow runner.
2. i-adjectivelateocc. written as 晩い
   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.
3. i-adjectivetoo lateusu. as もう〜 or もはや〜; occ. written as 晩い

• SynonymゆっくりNeutralAn adverb for doing things slowly and unhurriedly, usually with a positive feel, as in 「ゆっくり休む」; 「遅い」 is an adjective that often carries dissatisfaction.
• SynonymスローCasualColloquial loanword for slow speed, used mostly in compounds like 「スローモーション」 and 「スローライフ」.
• Synonym緩慢かんまんWrittenWritten/formal word for slow change or progress, or lax, ineffective handling, as in 「緩慢な動作」 and 「緩慢な対応」.
• RelatedのろいNeutralFor sluggish, slow-moving actions, stressing the exasperating slowness; 「遅い」 can also refer to being late in time.
• RelatedどんくさいCasualColloquial, with a Kansai flavor: slow-moving and clumsy in action or reaction. It can describe people or ways of doing things, and is derogatory.
• Related鈍臭いのろくさいCasualThe same word 「どんくさい」 as the entry above, also written 「鈍臭い」; often used to laugh at one's own clumsiness, as in 「私どんくさいから」.
• RelatedとろいCasualSlang for a person who is slow-witted or sluggish, with a contemptuous edge, as in 「とろい奴」.
• Related愚図ぐずCasualColloquial word for a person who dawdles and can't decide, said mostly of children, with a scolding tone.
• Related鈍重どんじゅうWrittenWritten-style word for heavy, sluggish movements or a dull, slow-witted nature, as in 「鈍重な動き」; 「遅い」 is the general word for slow or late.

Default to 「遅い」 for slow speed and for being late. Use 「ゆっくり」 for doing things leisurely. For slow-witted or clumsy people, the colloquial choices are 「とろい」 and 「鈍くさい」; a dawdling, indecisive person is 「愚図」. For slow progress or change use 「緩慢」; 「スロー」 forms compounds, 「鈍い」 stresses exasperating sluggishness, and 「鈍重」 is written-style for heavy, dull slowness.

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

1. （遅おそい、鈍にぶい）単位たんい時間じかんあたりに進すすむ距離きょりが小ちいさい。また、動作どうさなどの量りょうが少すくない。のろい。
2. （遅おそい、晩ばんい）時間じかんや時期じき、順序じゅんじょなどがある基準きじゅんより後あとである。
3. （遅おそい、晩ばんい）夜よるが更ふけている。深更しんこうである。
4. （遅おそい、晩ばんい）予定よていの時間じかんがすぎているのにまだ来きていない。まだ完成かんせいしていない。
5. （遅おそい、晩ばんい）間に合まにあわない。手遅ておくれである。