Translation guide
The state of being lazy or avoiding activity; often implies a love of ease and a habitual disinclination to exertion.
Describing a person's character or habitual state of avoiding work or effort.
A formal noun/adjective meaning laziness or indolence. Often used in written or serious contexts to describe a person's character.
Describing a temporary or situational unwillingness to do something that requires effort.
Describing a relaxed, unhurried state that is enjoyed rather than criticized; often positive or neutral.
The English word 'indolence' is relatively formal and literary. In everyday Japanese, people more commonly use phrases like 面倒くさがる or 怠ける to describe lazy behavior, rather than the noun 怠惰, which can sound stiff or judgmental.
怠惰 (たいだ) is a formal, often negative term for moral or habitual laziness. 無精 (ぶしょう) is more about a personal disinclination to bother, and is commonly used in compounds like 無精ひげ (stubble from not shaving).
彼の怠惰な生活態度が問題だ。
His indolent lifestyle is a problem.
Describes a natural disinclination to make an effort; often used for personal habits like not wanting to get up or do chores. Common in compounds like 無精者 (lazy person).
彼は無精で、休日は一日中寝ている。
He's so indolent that he sleeps all day on his days off.
A habit of laziness; emphasizes a persistent tendency to be idle.
怠け癖がついてしまって、勉強が手につかない。
I've developed a habit of indolence and can't focus on studying.
A slightly old-fashioned or literary term for indolence; implies a temperamental aversion to trouble or effort.
彼は生来のものぐさで、何をするのも面倒くさがる。
He is indolent by nature and finds everything bothersome.
To feel that something is too much trouble; to be reluctant to make an effort. Very common in casual speech.
彼は片付けを面倒くさがって、部屋が散らかっている。
He's too indolent to tidy up, so his room is messy.
Literally 'has no motivation'; often used to describe a lack of drive or indolence in a specific situation.
最近、仕事にやる気がなくて、サボってばかりだ。
Lately I've been feeling indolent at work and just slacking off.
To be idle or lazy; a verb that directly describes the act of avoiding work.
彼はいつも宿題を怠けている。
He always shirks his homework out of indolence.
An adverb/adjective meaning carefree, relaxed, or unhurried. Can imply a pleasant indolence without negative judgment.
休日は家でのんびり過ごすのが好きだ。
I like to spend my days off in indolent relaxation at home.
A colloquial term for laziness or idleness, often used self-deprecatingly or humorously about enjoying a lazy day.
今日は一日ぐうたらして過ごした。
I spent the whole day in blissful indolence.
A formal/literary term for ease and comfort, often implying a life of indolent pleasure.
彼は安逸な生活を送っている。
He leads a life of indolent ease.