怠慢

• Reading: たいまん
• Romaji: taiman
• Kanji breakdown: 怠 (tai) — lazy, neglect, idle; 慢 (man) — idle, arrogant, neglect
• Pronunciation: /ta.i.maɴ/

Meaning

Negligence; neglect; carelessness. A failure to fulfil duties or responsibilities through laziness or inattention.

A na-adjective and noun describing a culpable lack of effort or attention to one's duties. Carries a stronger negative connotation than simply being lazy — it implies responsibility that has been shirked. Often used in formal or professional contexts, such as 職務怠慢 (dereliction of duty). Can also describe a general attitude of carelessness toward important matters.

Examples

1. 彼の仕事に対する怠慢な態度が問題になった。 His negligent attitude toward work became a problem.
2. 安全管理の怠慢が事故の原因だった。 Negligence in safety management was the cause of the accident.
3. 学生時代の怠慢を今になって後悔している。 I now regret how negligent I was during my school days.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, legal, responsibility, criticism

Tone: critical

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 怠 (tai, lazy/neglect) + 慢 (man, idle/arrogant). Both characters carry connotations of laziness and disregard, making this a strongly negative compound.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal