もたつく

• Reading: もたつく
• Romaji: motatsuku
• Pronunciation: /mo.ta.tsɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To fumble; to be slow and clumsy; to dawdle; to move or work sluggishly without making progress.

A Group 1 (godan) verb written entirely in hiragana. Describes hesitant, inefficient, or slow movement or progress — whether physical awkwardness or getting bogged down in a task. Carries a nuance of mild frustration or impatience. Can describe a person, machine, or process.

Examples

1. 初日から準備にもたつき、予定が大幅に遅れた。 They fumbled with preparations from day one, and the schedule fell far behind.
2. 新しいソフトウェアに慣れず操作がもたついた。 Unable to get used to the new software, I was slow and clumsy with the controls.
3. もたついている時間はないから、さっさと動いてくれ。 There's no time to dawdle, so get moving already.

Usage Guide

Context: work, daily life, criticism, technology

Tone: impatient

Origin & History

Etymology uncertain; likely onomatopoeic in origin, with もた suggesting a heavy or sluggish quality. The つく suffix forms verbs indicating a recurring or habitual state.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal