Translation guide
To avoid or neglect a duty, responsibility, or obligation. In Japanese, this is expressed through verbs meaning 'to neglect', 'to evade', or 'to avoid', often with specific nouns for duty or responsibility.
To express that someone is deliberately not doing something they are supposed to do, such as work, chores, or obligations.
General verb for being lazy or neglecting one's duties. Often used for work or tasks.
He is shirking his work.
Casual/slang term for skipping or slacking off, especially from school or work. Derived from 'sabotage'.
I shirked class and played games.
To escape or evade something, often used for responsibilities or duties. More formal than サボる.
You must not shirk your responsibilities.
To avoid or evade, often used in formal contexts for duties or problems.
He shirked the troublesome task.
To neglect or be negligent in one's duty. Often used in formal or written contexts.
If you shirk paying attention, it can lead to an accident.
To express avoiding something because it is bothersome or challenging.
怠ける implies laziness or neglect, often without active avoidance. サボる is casual and implies intentionally skipping something. 逃れる is more about escaping from an obligation, often with a nuance of avoiding something unpleasant.
He neglected his homework (out of laziness).
He skipped the meeting (on purpose).
He evaded his responsibility.
To feel that something is too much trouble and avoid it. Very common in casual speech.
He is shirking cleaning because it's a hassle.