Translation guide
The English phrase 'put off' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: postponing something, causing a feeling of dislike or reluctance, and distracting or disturbing someone. Each meaning has different natural Japanese expressions.
To delay doing something or to reschedule an event for a later time.
I keep putting off my homework. · The meeting was put off until next week. · Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
The most direct and common translation for postponing events, meetings, or plans. It is a neutral, standard word.
会議は来週に延期されました。
The meeting was put off until next week.
旅行を延期しなければならなかった。
I had to put off my trip.
Used specifically for procrastinating on tasks or decisions, often with a negative connotation. Very common for personal duties.
宿題を先延ばしにしてしまった。
I ended up putting off my homework.
決断を先延ばしにするのは良くない。
It's not good to put off making a decision.
Means to put something off and do it later, often implying lower priority. Common in casual conversation.
掃除は後回しにして、まず料理をしよう。
Let's put off cleaning and cook first.
To delay something, often used for schedules or deadlines. Slightly more formal than 先延ばしにする.
出発を遅らせた。
I put off my departure.
To drag out or prolong, often used for negotiations or time. Can imply intentional delay.
交渉を引き延ばす戦略。
A strategy to put off negotiations.
To make someone feel dislike, disgust, or reluctance, often through an unpleasant quality.
His arrogance really puts me off. · The smell put me off my food. · I was put off by her rude attitude.
A general way to say something makes you feel uncomfortable or displeased. Works for many contexts.
彼の態度は私を不快にさせた。
His attitude put me off.
To be disgusted or fed up with something, often after repeated exposure. Stronger than 不快.
彼の自慢話には嫌気がさす。
His bragging puts me off.
Casual slang meaning to be turned off or creeped out by someone's behavior. Very common in spoken Japanese.
あの冗談はちょっと引いた。
That joke kind of put me off.
Specifically for when something puts you off your food or appetite.
その臭いで食欲を失った。
The smell put me off my food.
To disturb someone's concentration or to divert attention from what they are doing.
Stop putting me off while I'm working. · The noise put her off her game. · Don't let him put you off your stride.
To distract someone or divert their attention. The most natural translation for this meaning.
仕事中に気を散らさないで。
Don't put me off while I'm working.
観客の声が選手の気を散らした。
The crowd's noise put the player off.
More formal way to say 'disturb concentration'. Suitable for written or formal contexts.
騒音が彼の集中を妨げた。
The noise put him off his concentration.
To disrupt someone's rhythm or pace, often in sports or performance.
相手のペースを乱す作戦。
A tactic to put the opponent off their game.
The English phrasal verb 'put off' cannot be translated word-for-word into Japanese. Always choose the expression that matches the intended meaning: postponing, causing dislike, or distracting.
延期する is for rescheduling events or plans (neutral). 先延ばしにする is for procrastinating on tasks (negative nuance). Using 延期する for homework sounds unnatural; use 先延ばしにする instead.