だるい

• Reading: だるい
• Romaji: darui
• Pronunciation: /da.ɾɯ.i/

Meaning

Sluggish, lethargic, can't be bothered — covers both physical tiredness and mental reluctance to do anything.

だるい is a standard Japanese adjective meaning tired or sluggish, but young people extended it beyond physical fatigue to express mental unwillingness — 'I can't be bothered' or 'that sounds like too much hassle.' It sits at the intersection of genuine exhaustion and deliberate laziness, making it the perfect word for when you simply do not want to deal with something. Often paired with body language like slouching or sighing.

Examples

1. 今日だるいから、ジム行くのやめとく。 I'm feeling so sluggish today, I'm gonna skip the gym.
2. 月曜の朝ってだるくない？毎週つらい。 Don't Monday mornings just feel so draining? Every single week is rough.
3. 飲み会のあと片付けだるいけど、やるしかないか。 Cleaning up after the drinking party is such a drag, but I guess I have no choice.

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, friends, workplace (casual)

Tone: lazy, unmotivated

Do Say

• 体だるいから今日は早く帰りたい。 (My body feels sluggish so I want to go home early today.)
• この作業だるいけど終わらせよう。 (This task is such a drag but let's finish it.)

Don't Say

• 上司に「今日だるいんで帰ります」とは言わない (Don't tell your boss 'I'm feeling darui so I'm going home' — too casual and sounds lazy)

Common Mistakes

• Using だるい in formal or polite contexts — it sounds unmotivated and rude when speaking to superiors
• Assuming it only means physically tired — the mental 'can't be bothered' nuance is equally common

Origin & History

Standard Japanese adjective meaning tired/sluggish. Young people extended it to mean 'can't be bothered / too much hassle,' broadening it from purely physical fatigue to a general expression of reluctance.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional adjective, slang extension from 2000s onward

Generation: All ages casually, especially teens to 30s

Social background: Universal casual speech

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The mental reluctance meaning is especially prevalent among younger speakers. Often appears in workplace banter among close colleagues.