遅い

• Reading: おそい
• Romaji: osoi
• Kanji breakdown: 遅 (oso/chi) — slow, late, tardy
• Pronunciation: /o.so.i/

Meaning

Slow; late. Describes slow speed or a late point in time.

An i-adjective that is the antonym of 早い, covering both slowness and lateness. Used for slow movement (このバスは遅い), arriving late (遅くなりました), and late hours (夜遅い). Conjugates regularly: 遅くない, 遅かった, 遅くなかった. The expression 遅くなりました is a common apology for being late.

Examples

1. すみません、遅くなりました。 I'm sorry, I'm late.
2. このバスは少し遅いです。 This bus is a little slow.
3. 夜遅い時間に電話しないでください。 Please don't call me late at night.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, time, transport

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 遅 combines the movement radical 辶 with 犀 (rhinoceros), evoking the image of a heavy, slow-moving animal.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal