Translation guide
Expressing that someone or something is slow in speed, action, or progress. Japanese uses different words depending on whether you mean physically slow, mentally slow, slow to act, or slow in progress.
Describing a person, vehicle, or action that moves at a low speed.
The most common word for 'slow' in terms of speed. Can be used for people, vehicles, or processes.
This train is slow, isn't it?
He runs slowly.
More emphatic than 遅い, often implying sluggishness or clumsiness. Can sound negative.
That turtle is slow.
Loanword from English, used in specific contexts like sports, music, or technology.
Play back in slow motion.
Describing someone who takes a long time to do something, is late, or is not prompt.
Also used for being late or slow to act. Context distinguishes from physical slowness.
Sorry for the slow reply.
He is always slow to act.
To dawdle, dilly-dally, or be slow in getting started. Often used for children or when someone is procrastinating.
Stop dawdling and get ready quickly.
To be slow and inefficient, fumbling around. Often used when someone is taking too long due to lack of skill or organization.
He is slow at his work.
Describing something that takes a long time to progress, such as work, growth, or recovery.
Can also mean slow in progress. Often used with nouns like 進歩 (progress) or 成長 (growth).
The economic recovery is slow.
Literally 'doesn't progress easily', used to express that something is slow-going.
The construction is slow (not progressing easily).
A formal, literary adverb meaning 'slowly', used with negative nuance about lack of progress.
The negotiations are making slow progress.
Describing someone who is slow to understand or learn. Use with caution as it can be offensive.
Literally 'head is bad', meaning unintelligent or slow-witted. Direct but common.
He is slow (not smart), so it takes time to explain.
Literally 'slow to swallow/understand', meaning slow on the uptake. Less harsh than 頭が悪い.
The new employee is slow to catch on.
Means dull or slow, can refer to senses, movements, or wits. 頭が鈍い means slow-witted.
Describing a timepiece that is behind the correct time.
Used for a clock or watch that is running slow.
This clock is five minutes slow.
Calling someone 遅い directly can be rude. Use more specific phrases like 行動が遅い (slow to act) or 飲み込みが遅い (slow to understand) to soften the statement.
He is slow to act. (Better than just 彼は遅い)
遅い is the neutral word for slow. のろい adds a nuance of sluggishness or clumsiness and is more negative. Use 遅い unless you want to emphasize the negative aspect.
I'm slow-witted today.