Translation guide
The act of avoiding work, duty, or responsibility. In Japanese, this is expressed through verbs and phrases that convey laziness, neglect, or evasion.
To express that someone is not doing their job, skipping tasks, or being lazy about responsibilities.
サボる implies intentionally skipping a specific task or event (like work or class), while 怠ける describes a general state of laziness or neglecting ongoing duties. サボる is more colloquial.
会議をサボった。
I skipped the meeting.
彼は練習を怠けている。
He is neglecting his practice.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'shirk'. Avoid direct translations like 回避する (to avoid) or 逃げる (to run away) unless the context is about evading a specific thing. Use サボる or 怠ける for most cases of shirking work/duty.
He often shirks his work.
授業をサボってゲームをした。
I skipped class and played games.
To be lazy, to neglect one's duties. Can be used for both general laziness and specific instances of shirking.
彼は家事を怠けている。
He is shirking the housework.
怠けずに勉強しなさい。
Study without shirking.
To evade responsibility. More formal and direct than サボる. Used when someone actively avoids accountability.
彼はいつも責任を逃れようとする。
He always tries to shirk responsibility.
Noun meaning playing hooky or taking an unjustified day off. Often used for school or work.
今日はずる休みだ。
I'm playing hooky today.
Escape, evasion. Often used in compounds like 現実逃避 (escapism) or 責任逃避 (shirking responsibility). More abstract and formal.
それは責任の逃避だ。
That's shirking your responsibility.