怠ける

• Reading: なまける
• Romaji: namakeru
• Kanji breakdown: 怠 (tai/nama) — idle, lazy, neglect
• Pronunciation: /na.ma.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be idle; to be lazy; to neglect one's duties. Shirking work or responsibilities.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb conjugated by dropping る (怠けない, 怠けます). Used for slacking off from work, school, or duties. The related noun 怠け者 (namakemono) means 'lazy person' — and is also the Japanese name for the sloth animal. Carries a negative connotation of willful laziness rather than justified rest.

Examples

1. 最近ちょっと怠けていたので成績が下がった。 I've been slacking off a bit lately, so my grades dropped.
2. 仕事を怠けると周りに迷惑がかかる。 If you slack off at work, it causes trouble for everyone around you.
3. 日曜日ぐらいは怠けてもいいだろう。 It should be okay to take it easy at least on Sundays.

Usage Guide

Context: work, school, self-discipline

Tone: critical

Origin & History

The kanji 怠 combines 心 (heart/mind) and 台 (platform/base), suggesting a mind that is idle or resting when it should be active.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal