Translation guide
The English verb 'linger' covers several related ideas: staying longer than expected, being slow to leave, persisting in the mind or air, and dwelling on something. Japanese expresses these with different verbs, adverbs, and phrases depending on the nuance.
To remain in a place after others have left or after the expected time, often because one is reluctant to leave.
Literally 'remain behind'. Used when someone stays after others have left, often at work or school.
彼は仕事が終わった後もオフィスに居残った。
He lingered in the office even after work was over.
Means 'to stay forever' or 'to stay on and on'. Conveys a sense of lingering too long, sometimes with a negative nuance.
彼女はパーティーにいつまでもいた。
She lingered at the party for ages.
To dawdle or linger hesitantly, often because one is reluctant to leave or act.
彼は玄関でぐずぐずしていた。
He lingered hesitantly at the front door.
Literally 'not easily go home'. Used when someone lingers and doesn't leave promptly.
彼はなかなか帰らなかった。
He lingered and wouldn't leave.
To move slowly or pause before leaving, often with a sense of reluctance or hesitation.
An adjective meaning 'hard to leave'. Expresses the feeling of wanting to linger because a place or moment is pleasant.
景色が美しくて、立ち去りがたかった。
The scenery was so beautiful that I lingered, reluctant to leave.
Idiom meaning 'to be pulled back by the hair'. Describes the feeling of lingering regret or reluctance when leaving.
楽しい時間だったので、後ろ髪を引かれる思いで帰った。
It was such a fun time that I left with a lingering reluctance.
To hesitate. Can be used when someone lingers because they are unsure about leaving.
For a thought, memory, or feeling to remain present over time, often unwillingly.
Means 'to remain'. Used for memories, feelings, or impressions that linger.
その言葉が心に残っている。
Those words linger in my mind.
Literally 'to drag a tail'. Means an event or feeling lingers and has lasting effects.
To smolder. Used for lingering doubts, discontent, or emotions that persist beneath the surface.
For a smell, smoke, or atmosphere to stay in a place for a while.
To drift or hang in the air. Used for smells, smoke, or an atmosphere that lingers.
部屋にタバコの煙が漂っていた。
Cigarette smoke lingered in the room.
Also used for smells or traces that remain.
To spend a long time thinking about something, often in a way that is not healthy.
To be hung up on or dwell on something. Often used for lingering over details or past events.
彼は小さなミスにこだわっている。
He lingers on small mistakes.
To drag along. Means to linger on negative feelings or past events, unable to move on.
Literally 'thinking forever'. A straightforward way to say someone lingers on a thought.
彼女はそのことについて、いつまでも考えている。
She lingers on that matter endlessly.
To be slow to disappear or end, often used for a dying person or a fading trend.
To be prolonged or drag on. Used for illnesses, meetings, or situations that linger.
彼の病気は長引いた。
His illness lingered.
To continue sluggishly or without clear end. Often negative.
会議がだらだら続いた。
The meeting lingered on and on.
English 'linger' covers many nuances. Simply using a dictionary equivalent like 長引く for all cases can sound unnatural. Choose the Japanese expression that matches the specific meaning you want.
残る is general 'remain', while 漂う emphasizes the drifting, pervasive quality of a smell or atmosphere. Use 漂う for a scent that hangs in the air, and 残る for a trace that stays in a room.
彼はドアの前でためらった。
He lingered hesitantly at the door.
The incident still lingers (has lingering effects).
不満がくすぶっている。
Discontent lingers.
The smell of cooking still lingers.
失恋をいつまでも引きずっている。
He's still lingering over his broken heart.