Translation guide
How to express being idle, unoccupied, or not doing anything in Japanese, depending on whether you mean free time, laziness, or inactivity.
Come visit when you're free.
Literally 'hands are empty', meaning you are free to do something. Often used when offering help.
If you're free, help me.
Verb meaning 'to become free' or 'to be vacant'. Used for schedules or time slots.
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.
He is being lazy at work.
A more formal or literary adjective meaning 'lazy' or 'indolent'. Often used in writing.
Lead an idle life.
Colloquial verb meaning 'to loaf around' or 'to be a lazybones'. Very casual.
I was idle all day long.
To say that a machine, system, or resource is idle or not being used.
To describe a person who is jobless or not working.
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.
You must not be idle.