How do you say "slow" in Japanese?

遅い

Osoi

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "slow" is 遅い (Osoi).

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Pronunciation

遅い is written using kanji. Romanised as Osoi, it sounds roughly like "oh-soh-ee" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Osoi (遅い) is an i-adjective meaning slow or late. It describes both slowness of speed and lateness of time, and saying Osoi! informally tells someone they are taking too long.

Example sentence

このパソコンはとても遅いです。

Kono pasokon wa totemo osoi desu.

This computer is very slow.

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How to remember 遅い

Osoi rhymes with 'oh, so late!' Think of waiting impatiently and saying Osoi when someone arrives behind schedule.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 遅い

How do you pronounce 遅い?

遅い is romanised as Osoi. Say it roughly like "oh-soh-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 遅い formal or casual?

遅い 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 遅い written in Japanese?

遅い is written using kanji. Osoi (遅い) is an i-adjective meaning slow or late.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Slow" in other languages

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