自堕落

• Reading: じだらく
• Romaji: jidaraku
• Kanji breakdown: 自 (ji/mizuka) — self; 堕 (da/o) — to fall, degrade; 落 (raku/o) — to fall, drop
• Pronunciation: /d͡ʑidaɾakɯ̟/

Meaning

Self-indulgent; dissolute; idle; depraved. Describes a lifestyle of laziness, excess, or moral laxity.

A な-adjective (自堕落な) used to describe a person whose life is characterised by a lack of discipline, excessive indulgence, or moral decay. Often used self-critically or critically of others. Has a stronger moral connotation than simply being lazy.

Examples

1. 就職活動に失敗してから、自堕落な生活を送るようになった。 After failing in his job search, he fell into a self-indulgent way of life.
2. 彼の自堕落な生活習慣がとうとう健康に影響し始めた。 His dissolute lifestyle has finally begun to take a toll on his health.
3. 自堕落な日々を反省し、生活を立て直すことにした。 Reflecting on his depraved days, he resolved to get his life back on track.

Usage Guide

Context: lifestyle, self-criticism, moral commentary

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (self) and 堕落 (moral decay, corruption). The 自 prefix intensifies the sense that the decline is self-caused and self-maintained.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal