遅らす・後らす・遅す|おくらすokurasu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
遅らす遅らす is the most common and most standard written form; it is the form learners should normally choose for this verb.
後らす後らす is a less common kanji-and-kana variant of 遅らす; beginners should not choose it as their default form.
遅す遅す is a less common written variant of 遅らす, with irregular okurigana; beginners should avoid choosing it as their default form.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto delay; to postpone; to slow down; to retard
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 遅らす（おくらす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 遅らします（おくらします） |
| Negative (nai) | 遅らさない（おくらさない） |
| polite (masen) | 遅らしません（おくらしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 遅らさず・遅らさぬ（おくらさず・おくらさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 遅らした（おくらした） |
| polite (mashita) | 遅らしました（おくらしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 遅らさなかった（おくらさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 遅らしませんでした（おくらしませんでした） |
| Te form | 遅らして（おくらして） |
| Potential | 遅らせる（おくらせる） |
| Passive | 遅らされる（おくらされる） |
| Causative | 遅らさせる（おくらさせる） |
| Causative passive | 遅らさせられる（おくらさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 遅らせば（おくらせば） |
| tara | 遅らしたら（おくらしたら） |
| Volitional | 遅らそう（おくらそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 遅らしましょう（おくらしましょう） |
| Imperative | 遅らせ（おくらせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
電車を遅らす
遅れる focuses on the event of a delay occurring (as in 電車が遅れる), while 遅らす highlights the act of causing a delay (電車を遅らす).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym延期えんきNeutralNoun for postponing to a later date, as in 「会議を延期する」; it centres on changing the date, while 「遅らす」 is about pushing time back or slowing progress.
- Synonym先送りさきおくりNeutralNoun for putting something off, as in 「問題の先送り」; it often carries the negative nuance of dodging a problem rather than simply delaying it.
- Related遅延ちえんNeutralNoun for a delay in arriving or finishing, as in 「電車の遅延」; used mainly for transport and engineering, and leans formal.
- Related遅滞ちたいWrittenWritten-style noun for work or progress stalling, as in 「業務の遅滞」; found mostly in legal and administrative writing.
- Related引き伸ばすひきのばすNeutralVerb for dragging something out, as in 「返事を引き伸ばす」; the point is deliberately stretching out the time before it is done.
- Related繰り延べるくりのべるNeutralVerb for putting something off to a later date, as in 「支払いを繰り延べる」; typical with schedules and payments.
- Related持ち越すもちこすNeutralVerb for carrying a matter over, as in 「結論を持ち越す」; it stresses leaving something unresolved and taking it up next time.
- Related猶予ゆうよNeutralNoun for allowing extra time or a grace period, as in 「執行猶予」「猶予期間」; common in legal contexts and with deadlines.
- Related繰り下げるくりさげるNeutralVerb for moving a time or date back, as in 「開始時間を繰り下げる」; it stresses shifting things to later slots in order.
- Related延滞えんたいNeutralNoun for being overdue or in arrears, as in 「家賃の延滞」; used mainly for late payments and overdue items such as library books.
- Related順延じゅんえんNeutralNoun for moving to the next date in sequence, as in 「雨天順延」; typical when events are put off, for example because of rain.
- Related遷延せんえんWrittenWritten-style word for a matter dragging on, as in 「審議の遷延」; rare, so best understood rather than used.
- Related延引えんいんWrittenWritten-style word for delaying; rare today — say 「延期」 instead in ordinary use.
- Related日延べひのべNeutralNative-Japanese noun for putting a date off, as in 「出発を日延べする」; it now sounds somewhat old-fashioned.
Use 「遅らす」 to push a time back or slow progress, as in 「出発を遅らす」「時計を遅らす」. To change a date, say 「延期」; for transport delays, 「遅延」; when an event is put off, e.g. for rain, 「順延」; and for dodging an issue, 「先送り」. The other words above fit narrower contexts — payments, legal deadlines, carrying matters over — so pick by situation.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
