Translation guide
A person who avoids work or effort. Japanese has many nuanced terms depending on the type of slacking, from mild laziness to social withdrawal.
Describing someone who is habitually lazy or avoids effort in everyday situations.
The most common and neutral term for a lazy person. Can be used for anyone who avoids work or effort.
He's a slacker, so he never does his homework.
A colloquial term for a lazy person who lounges around doing nothing. Often used for someone who is idle at home.
On my days off, I just laze around like a slacker.
A somewhat old-fashioned term for a slovenly or indolent person. Emphasizes neglect of duties or personal care.
He's such a slacker; his room is always a mess.
Focusing on avoiding assigned tasks, duties, or work in a school or workplace setting.
Someone who habitually skips work, school, or duties. 'サボる' means to skip or slack off, and '魔' adds a sense of being a chronic offender.
That guy is a total slacker; he's never once come to a meeting.
A straightforward description: 'a person who doesn't work'. Not a set phrase, but clearly conveys the idea of a slacker in a work context.
A formal term for a worker who deliberately slows down or avoids work, often in a labor dispute context. Rare in everyday speech.
Describing someone who withdraws from society and avoids work or school entirely, often staying at home.
Refers to a person who withdraws from social life, often staying in their room for months or years. While not exactly 'slacker', it overlaps when the person avoids work or school.
He dropped out of college and became a shut-in slacker.
Acronym for 'Not in Education, Employment, or Training'. A NEET is often seen as a slacker by society, though the term is neutral in definition.
Using 'slacker' lightly among friends or about oneself, without strong negative judgment.
In casual conversation, calling yourself or a friend 怠け者 or ぐうたら can be playful. Context and tone matter.
I'm such a slacker, I do nothing on weekends.
In Japanese workplaces, directly calling someone a 'slacker' (怠け者) can be very rude. It's better to describe the behavior indirectly, e.g., '彼はあまり仕事をしない' (He doesn't do much work).
怠け者 is a general term for a lazy person, while ぐうたら specifically implies lounging around idly, often at home. ぐうたら is more colloquial and less harsh.
He's a slacker, so he's dragging the team down.
The slacker received a warning from the company.
The number of young slackers (NEETs) is increasing.