遅れる・後れる|おくれるokureru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
遅れる遅れる is the most common written form and the recommended choice for learners when writing this word.
後れる後れる is a less common written variant; learners should normally choose 遅れる instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be late; to be delayed; to fall behind schedule; to be overdueusu. 遅れる
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto fall behind (in a race, one's studies, etc.); to lag behind; to be behind (the times)oft. 後れる
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be bereaved of; to be preceded by (someone) in deathoft. 後れる
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be slow (of a clock or watch)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 遅れる（おくれる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 遅れます（おくれます） |
| Negative (nai) | 遅れない（おくれない） |
| polite (masen) | 遅れません（おくれません） |
| classical zu / nu | 遅れず・遅れぬ（おくれず・おくれぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 遅れた（おくれた） |
| polite (mashita) | 遅れました（おくれました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 遅れなかった（おくれなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 遅れませんでした（おくれませんでした） |
| Te form | 遅れて（おくれて） |
| Potential | 遅れられる（おくれられる） |
| Passive | 遅れられる（おくれられる） |
| Causative | 遅れさせる（おくれさせる） |
| Causative passive | 遅れさせられる（おくれさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 遅れれば（おくれれば） |
| tara | 遅れたら（おくれたら） |
| Volitional | 遅れよう（おくれよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 遅れましょう（おくれましょう） |
| Imperative | 遅れろ（おくれろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
電車が遅れる
遅れる is intransitive: the subject marked by が experiences the delay (電車が遅れる). 遅らす is transitive: the object marked by を is what you delay (電車を遅らす).
電車が遅れる
遅らせる is the transitive counterpart of 遅れる; it takes an object marked by を, such as 出発 (departure), to mean 'delay something'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Antonym早まるはやまるNeutralThe opposite of 「遅れる」 in time: something happens or is scheduled earlier than before, as in 「予定が早まる」. Neutral in register.
- Antonym進むすすむNeutralThe opposite of 「遅れる」: a clock runs fast, or work or study moves ahead and makes progress, as in 「時計が進む」. Neutral in register.
- Antonym先行するWrittenThe opposite of 「遅れる」 in written/formal prose: to go ahead of others or lead the field, as in 「技術が先行する」.
Being late or falling behind is 「遅れる」 by default. For something moved to an earlier time use 「早まる」; for a clock running fast or for progress use 「進む」; for leading or going ahead (written) use 「先行する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
