How do you say "lazy" in Japanese?

怠惰な

taida na

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "lazy" is 怠惰な (taida na).

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Pronunciation

怠惰な is written using kanji. Romanised as taida na, it sounds roughly like "tah-ee-dah-nah" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Taida na (怠惰な) is a formal na-adjective that describes habitual laziness rather than temporary tiredness. In everyday speech, namakemono (lazy person) or namakeru (to be lazy) are more common.

Example sentence

彼女は少し怠惰な性格です。

Kanojo wa sukoshi taida na seikaku desu.

She has a slightly lazy personality.

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How to remember 怠惰な

Taida contains two similar-sounding parts 怠 and 惰. The repetition suggests something lingering and persistent, like a lazy habit.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 怠惰な

How do you pronounce 怠惰な?

怠惰な is romanised as taida na. Say it roughly like "tah-ee-dah-nah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 怠惰な formal or casual?

怠惰な is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 怠惰な written in Japanese?

怠惰な is written using kanji. Taida na (怠惰な) is a formal na-adjective that describes habitual laziness rather than temporary tiredness.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Lazy" in other languages

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