Translation guide
To avoid or neglect a duty, responsibility, or obligation. In Japanese, this is expressed through verbs meaning 'to neglect', 'to evade', or 'to avoid', often with specific nouns for duty or responsibility.
To express that someone is deliberately not doing something they are supposed to do, such as work, chores, or obligations.
General verb for being lazy or neglecting one's duties. Often used for work or tasks.
To express avoiding something because it is bothersome or challenging.
怠ける implies laziness or neglect, often without active avoidance. サボる is casual and implies intentionally skipping something. 逃れる is more about escaping from an obligation, often with a nuance of avoiding something unpleasant.
彼は宿題を怠けた。
He neglected his homework (out of laziness).
彼は会議をサボった。
He skipped the meeting (on purpose).
彼は責任から逃れた。
He evaded his responsibility.
彼は仕事を怠けている。
He is shirking his work.
Casual/slang term for skipping or slacking off, especially from school or work. Derived from 'sabotage'.
授業をサボってゲームをした。
I shirked class and played games.
To escape or evade something, often used for responsibilities or duties. More formal than サボる.
責任から逃れてはいけない。
You must not shirk your responsibilities.
To avoid or evade, often used in formal contexts for duties or problems.
彼は面倒な仕事を回避した。
He shirked the troublesome task.
To neglect or be negligent in one's duty. Often used in formal or written contexts.
注意を怠ると事故につながる。
If you shirk paying attention, it can lead to an accident.
General verb for avoiding something physically or metaphorically, including tasks or people.
彼は難しい問題を避けている。
He is shirking the difficult problems.
To feel that something is too much trouble and avoid it. Very common in casual speech.
彼は掃除を面倒くさがっている。
He is shirking cleaning because it's a hassle.