Translation guide
The English word 'idle' covers several distinct meanings: not working (person or machine), not in use, lazy, or without purpose. Japanese uses different words and phrases depending on the nuance.
Describing a person who is not employed or not doing work at the moment.
Means 'unemployed' or 'without occupation'. Used for someone who does not have a job.
He is currently unemployed.
Literally 'not doing work'. A straightforward way to say someone is not working.
She is not working right now.
Means 'free time' or 'not busy'. Can imply idleness but often just means having nothing scheduled.
Does not necessarily mean unemployed; it's about having free time.
I'm free today.
Describing a machine, factory, or equipment that is not operating.
Describing a person who is lazy or not willing to work.
Means 'lazy person'. A common noun for someone who avoids work.
He is an idle person. (He's lazy.)
Means 'lazy' or 'indolent'. More formal or literary than 怠け者.
Colloquial term for laziness or loafing around. Often used as 'ぐうたらする' (to laze around).
Describing something done without a serious purpose, such as idle talk, idle curiosity, or idle time.
Means 'idle talk' or 'chit-chat'. Literally 'wasteful talk'.
We spent the time in idle talk.
Means 'killing time' or 'pastime'. Used for idle activities to pass time.
Means 'without particular reason' or 'just because'. Can describe idle curiosity or actions.
Classical word for idleness or leisure, often with a poetic nuance. Famous from '徒然草' (Essays in Idleness).
Describing an engine running at low speed without doing work.
暇 (ひま) means having free time, not necessarily laziness. 怠け者 (なまけもの) implies a character flaw of laziness. Be careful not to call someone 怠け者 unless you mean it negatively.
無職 (むしょく) simply means 'unemployed' and does not carry the negative connotation of laziness. Using it to mean 'lazy' can be misleading.
He is too idle to look for a job.
The factory has been idle for months.
We chatted idly about the weather.
遊休設備を売却した。
We sold the idle equipment.
Lead an idle life.
休みの日はぐうたらしている。
On my days off, I just idle around.
I read books to pass the idle hours.
I just asked out of idle curiosity.
徒然なるままに日暮らし硯に向かひて。
In my idle hours, I sit facing my inkstone all day.
空ぶかしは近所迷惑だ。
Idle revving is a nuisance to the neighborhood.