Translation guide
Describes a state of not working or being active, often with a nuance of laziness or leisure. Japanese expressions vary based on whether the idleness is voluntary, involuntary, or carries a negative connotation.
To describe a lifestyle of not working, often implying laziness or lack of productivity.
Literally 'to live by playing'. Implies living without working, often supported by others or savings. Can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context.
彼は親の遺産で遊んで暮らしている。
He is living in idleness on his parents' inheritance.
A formal, literary term meaning 'idling away one's time without achieving anything'. Strongly negative connotation.
無為徒食の日々を送る。
To spend one's days in idleness.
Means 'laziness' or 'indolence'. Often used to describe a character trait or a state of being idle out of laziness.
怠惰な生活を送る。
To lead a life of idleness.
Describes hanging around doing nothing, often without a clear purpose. Casual and commonly used.
仕事もしないで、毎日ぶらぶらしている。
He doesn't work and just idles around every day.
To describe a lifestyle of relaxation and freedom from work, often by choice or in retirement.
Means 'living in comfortable retirement' or 'enjoying a life of leisure'. Positive connotation, often used for retirees or those who have achieved financial independence.
退職後は悠々自適の生活を送りたい。
After retirement, I want to live a life of leisure.
To live in a relaxed, unhurried manner. Neutral to positive, emphasizing a stress-free lifestyle.
田舎でのんびり暮らしたい。
I want to live a leisurely life in the countryside.
Similar to 遊んで暮らす but slightly more literary. Can imply a life devoted to pleasure or artistic pursuits.
To describe a period of having no work or activities, often temporary.
Literally 'to have too much free time on one's hands'. Implies boredom from lack of activity.
仕事がなくて暇を持て余している。
I have no work and am at a loose end.
To be unemployed. Neutral, factual description of not having a job.
彼は長い間無職でいる。
He has been living in idleness (unemployed) for a long time.
遊んで暮らす often implies living off someone else's money or not working by choice, and can be negative. 悠々自適 is a positive, formal term for a comfortable, leisurely retirement life.
彼は親のすねをかじって遊んで暮らしている。
He is living in idleness, sponging off his parents.
祖父は田舎で悠々自適の生活を送っている。
My grandfather is living a life of leisure in the countryside.
Directly translating 'living in idleness' as 怠惰に生きる is unnatural. Use set phrases like 遊んで暮らす or 怠惰な生活を送る instead.
彼は一生を遊び暮らした。
He spent his whole life in idleness/pleasure.