Translation guide
How to express the state or act of doing nothing in Japanese, from simply being idle to deliberately avoiding action.
Describe a state of leisure, inactivity, or having nothing to do.
The most direct and common way to say 'doing nothing' or 'not doing anything'. It's a neutral statement of fact.
今、何もしていないよ。
I'm not doing anything right now.
He did nothing all day.
Means 'free time' or 'having nothing to do'. Often used when you are bored or available.
暇だから、散歩でもしよう。
I have nothing to do, so let's go for a walk.
暇なときは何をしますか？
What do you do when you have nothing to do?
Describes hanging around doing nothing in particular, often with a nuance of idling or loafing.
日曜日は家でぶらぶらしていた。
On Sunday I just lazed around at home doing nothing.
Implies relaxing and taking it easy, not necessarily 'doing nothing' but enjoying leisure without activity.
休日はのんびりしているのが好きです。
I like just relaxing and doing nothing on my days off.
Express intentionally not doing something, holding back, or leaving things as they are.
The plain non-past form, often used for decisions or intentions to do nothing.
今は何もしないほうがいい。
It's better to do nothing for now.
彼は何もしないと決めた。
He decided to do nothing.
Means to leave something alone or not interfere; doing nothing about a situation.
Literally 'not put out a hand', meaning to not get involved or not take action.
危ないから手を出さないで。
Don't do anything; it's dangerous.
Formal term for watching the situation without taking action; 'wait-and-see' approach.
当局は事態を静観している。
The authorities are doing nothing but watching the situation.
Describe a state of laziness, wasting time, or not doing what one should be doing.
Means being lazy or idle, often with a negative connotation of neglecting duties.
彼は仕事を怠けている。
He's slacking off at work (doing nothing).
怠けてないで勉強しなさい。
Stop doing nothing and study!
Colloquial term for loafing around, being a lazybones.
休みの日はぐうたらしてしまう。
On my days off I end up doing nothing but lazing around.
Describes being sluggish or doing something in a lazy, drawn-out manner; often implies wasting time.
だらだらしてないで、早くしなさい。
Stop doing nothing and hurry up!
Express that an action or thing accomplishes nothing.
Means 'it's useless' or 'it's no use', implying that doing something yields no result.
今さら謝っても無駄だ。
Apologizing now is doing nothing; it's useless.
Literally 'there is no meaning', often used to say that doing something is pointless.
そんなことをしても意味がない。
Doing that is doing nothing; it's meaningless.
The phrase 'doing nothing' is not directly translated as 何もする. Instead, use 何もしない (do nothing) or 何もしていない (not doing anything). The verb する alone cannot be negated with 何も without the negative form.
暇 (hima) is a noun/adjective meaning 'free time' or 'having nothing to do', often with a nuance of boredom. 何もしていない is a verb phrase meaning 'not doing anything' and is more neutral. Use 暇 when you want to emphasize availability or boredom, and 何もしていない when simply stating inactivity.
Let's just leave that problem alone (do nothing about it).
彼を放っておいてください。
Please leave him alone (don't do anything to him).