Translation guide
The English word "busy" covers a range of situations from having a full schedule to being engaged in an activity. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 忙しい (isogashii), but other expressions are used depending on whether you mean a busy period, a crowded place, or being occupied with something.
Expressing that you are busy with work, studies, or daily tasks.
The standard adjective for "busy." Used for people and their schedules.
今週はとても忙しい。
I'm very busy this week.
仕事が忙しくて、趣味の時間がない。
I'm so busy with work that I have no time for hobbies.
An onomatopoeic expression meaning to be frantically busy, often with a sense of rushing around.
今日は一日中バタバタしていた。
I was running around all day today.
A lively expression meaning to be extremely busy, often in a chaotic or overwhelmed way.
年末はてんてこ舞いだ。
I'm swamped at the end of the year.
Describing a time when you are generally busy, like a busy week or month.
Can also modify time nouns to mean a busy period.
忙しい一週間だった。
It was a busy week.
A slightly more formal way to say "busy period."
多忙な時期で、返事が遅れました。
I was in a busy period, so my reply was delayed.
Describing a place with many people, like a busy street or restaurant.
The most common way to say a place is crowded or busy with people.
このレストランはいつも混んでいる。
This restaurant is always busy.
駅が混んでいて、電車に乗れなかった。
The station was so crowded I couldn't get on the train.
Means lively or bustling, often with a positive connotation. Not exactly "busy" but used for vibrant places.
Saying that someone is occupied or a phone line is busy.
Used specifically for a phone line that is busy.
電話が話し中だった。
The line was busy.
A polite way to say someone is busy or occupied, often used in business settings.
Describing a person who interferes in others' affairs.
A noun or na-adjective meaning meddlesome or a busybody.
彼はお節介な人だ。
He's a busybody.
To butt in or meddle verbally.
人のことに口出ししないで。
Don't meddle in other people's business.
忙しい (isogashii) is only for people and their schedules. To say a place is busy/crowded, use 混んでいる (kondeiru). Saying 忙しいレストラン is incorrect; say 混んでいるレストラン.
忙しい describes a person's state of having many things to do. 混んでいる describes a place that is crowded with people or things. They are not interchangeable.
最近とても忙しい。
I've been so busy lately.
その店は週末いつも混んでいる。
The store is always busy on weekends.
ごめん、今忙しい。
Sorry, I'm busy right now.
この通りはいつも賑やかだ。
This street is always bustling.
Literally "can't free my hands," meaning you are occupied with something and cannot attend to another task.
今手が離せないので、後で電話します。
I'm tied up right now, so I'll call you later.
ただいま取り込み中でございます。
He is currently occupied.