遅刻

• 読み: ちこく
• ローマ字: chikoku
• 漢字の分解: 遅 (chi/osoi) — late, slow; 刻 (koku) — time, engrave
• 発音: /tɕi.ko.kɯ/

意味

Being late; tardiness. Arriving after the scheduled or expected time.

A noun that functions as a suru verb (遅刻する). Very commonly used in school and work contexts: 学校に遅刻する (to be late for school), 会議に遅刻する (to be late for a meeting). In Japanese culture, punctuality is highly valued, making 遅刻 carry a strong negative connotation. Often paired with 理由 (reason) when explaining tardiness.

例文

1. 電車が遅れて会社に遅刻してしまった。
2. 遅刻しないように早めに家を出た。
3. 今学期は一度も遅刻をしていない。

使い方ガイド

場面: school, work, daily life

トーン: apologetic

起源と歴史

Compound of 遅 (chi, late/slow) and 刻 (koku, time/moment). Together, 'late for the appointed time.' The kanji 刻 originally meant carving or engraving — time was once marked by carving notches.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal