Translation guide
The act of lingering or hanging around in a public place without a clear purpose, often with a nuance of being suspicious or unwanted.
To describe the act of staying in a place, especially a public area, without any apparent reason or activity.
To emphasize the suspicious or potentially criminal aspect of lingering in an area.
Directly conveys suspicious loitering; '不審' means suspicious.
警察は不審にうろつく人物を職務質問した。
The police questioned a person who was loitering suspiciously.
Used in official rules, signs, or legal documents prohibiting loitering.
Common on signs meaning 'No loitering' or 'No hanging around'.
駅前に「たむろ禁止」の看板がある。
There is a 'No Loitering' sign in front of the station.
たむろする is typically used for groups of people gathering and staying in one spot, often with a negative image. うろつく is more about moving around restlessly or suspiciously, usually by an individual.
学生が校門前にたむろしている。
Students are loitering in front of the school gate.
猫が庭をうろついている。
A cat is loitering in the garden.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches all nuances of 'loitering'. Using たむろする or うろつく depends on whether it's a group or individual, and the level of suspicion. Avoid directly translating 'loitering' as ロイタリング, which is not used.
Commonly used for groups of people hanging around, often with a slightly negative or idle connotation.
若者たちがコンビニの前でたむろしている。
Young people are loitering in front of the convenience store.
Implies wandering around restlessly or suspiciously, often used for a single person.
怪しい男が家の周りをうろついている。
A suspicious man is loitering around the house.
Means to hang around idly, often without a negative nuance; can be used for leisurely strolling.
公園でぶらぶらするのは楽しい。
It's fun to loiter in the park.
Formal or technical term for wandering or loitering, often used in legal contexts or for elderly with dementia.
深夜の徘徊は条例で禁止されている。
Loitering late at night is prohibited by ordinance.
By itself, often implies suspicious wandering, especially when context suggests it.
夜中に誰かが庭をうろついていた。
Someone was loitering in the garden at night.
More formal and legalistic, used in ordinances or official prohibitions.
この区域では夜間の徘徊が禁止されています。
Loitering is prohibited in this area at night.