Translation guide
The state of an engine running while the vehicle is not moving, or a person being inactive or doing nothing productive.
Describing a vehicle's engine running while stationary.
The most common and direct translation for engine idling. Used in everyday conversation and technical contexts.
エンジンをアイドリングのままにしないでください。
Please don't leave the engine idling.
Literally 'with the engine left on'. A natural way to describe idling in instructions or warnings.
エンジンをかけたまま車から離れないでください。
Don't leave the car with the engine idling.
Describing a person who is not doing anything productive or is wasting time.
Literally 'being without doing anything'. A natural way to describe idling in a neutral sense.
彼は一日中何もしないでいた。
He was idling all day.
Means to hang around or loaf about. Implies idling without a clear purpose, often in a leisurely way.
Both mean the engine is idling. アイドリング is a loanword and sounds more technical or modern. エンジンをかけたまま is a native phrase and can be used in everyday warnings or instructions.
アイドリングをやめてください。
Please stop idling.
エンジンをかけたままにしないで。
Don't leave the engine idling.
Refers to the automatic start-stop system that shuts off the engine when idling. Common in car specifications.
この車はアイドリングストップ機能が付いています。
This car has an idling stop function.
仕事中にぶらぶらするのはやめなさい。
Stop idling during work.
Means to be lazy or neglect one's duties. Stronger than just idling; implies a lack of effort.
Can sound negative; use when idling is due to laziness.
彼は怠けてばかりいる。
He is always idling (being lazy).
Literally 'waste time'. Used when idling is seen as unproductive.
ただ時間を無駄にしているだけだ。
You're just idling (wasting time).