Translation guide
How to express being idle, unoccupied, or not doing anything in Japanese, depending on whether you mean free time, laziness, or inactivity.
To say you are free or have nothing to do, in a neutral or positive sense.
The most common way to say you are free or have nothing to do. Can be used in casual conversation.
今日は暇だ。
I'm free today.
暇な時に遊びに来て。
Come visit when you're free.
Polite form of 暇だ. Use in formal or polite situations.
今週末は暇です。
I'm free this weekend.
Literally 'hands are empty', meaning you are free to do something. Often used when offering help.
手が空いているなら手伝って。
If you're free, help me.
Verb meaning 'to become free' or 'to be vacant'. Used for schedules or time slots.
午後は空いていますか？
Are you free in the afternoon?
To describe a person who is idle out of laziness or lack of motivation.
Verb meaning 'to be lazy' or 'to neglect one's duties'. Intransitive.
彼は仕事を怠けている。
He is being lazy at work.
怠けてはいけない。
You must not be idle.
A more formal or literary adjective meaning 'lazy' or 'indolent'. Often used in writing.
怠惰な生活を送る。
Lead an idle life.
Colloquial verb meaning 'to loaf around' or 'to be a lazybones'. Very casual.
一日中ぐうたらしていた。
I was idle all day long.
To say that a machine, system, or resource is idle or not being used.
Literally 'playing', but used for machines or resources that are idle. Common in business contexts.
この機械は今遊んでいる。
This machine is idle now.
Direct loanword 'idle' used in technical contexts for computers or engines.
CPUがアイドル状態です。
The CPU is idle.
To describe a person who is jobless or not working.
Means 'unemployed' or 'without occupation'. Neutral but factual.
彼は今無職だ。
He is currently idle (unemployed).
Literally 'have no work'. A softer way to say unemployed.
今仕事がなくて困っている。
I'm idle without work and it's tough.
The English phrase 'be idle' can sound negative (lazy) or neutral (free). In Japanese, 暇 (ひま) is neutral, while 怠ける (なまける) is clearly negative. Choose based on intent.