Translation guide
The English word "sloth" can refer to the animal or the sin of laziness. This guide covers both meanings.
Referring to the slow-moving mammal native to Central and South America.
The standard Japanese word for the animal sloth. Written in katakana, but sometimes in kanji as 樹懶.
Sloths spend most of the day sleeping.
Referring to sloth as one of the seven deadly sins, or a general moral failing of laziness.
The standard term for sloth as a sin or moral laziness. Often used in religious or philosophical contexts.
Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins.
Refers to laziness or indolence, often in a more personal, everyday sense. Can be used in compounds like 無精者 (lazy person).
A somewhat old-fashioned or literary term for laziness, often implying a habitual dislike of effort.
Describing a person's tendency to avoid work or effort in daily life.
Refers to a habit of laziness. Commonly used to describe someone who is prone to being idle.
I've gotten into the habit of being lazy.
The verb 'to be lazy' or 'to idle'. Used in everyday speech.
A colloquial and slightly humorous term for a lazy person or laziness. Often used for someone who lounges around.
While ナマケモノ literally means 'lazy person' (怠け者), it almost exclusively refers to the animal in modern Japanese. Using it to call a person lazy would be confusing or humorous.
He is a sloth. (This would be taken as a joke or metaphor, not a direct insult.)
怠惰 (taida) is more formal and often used in ethical or religious contexts, while 無精 (bushou) is more casual and describes personal laziness. 怠惰 is the standard translation for the deadly sin.
彼は無精で、部屋が散らかっている。
He is lazy and his room is messy.
ものぐさな性格を直したい。
I want to fix my lazy nature.
彼は仕事を怠けてばかりいる。
He is always slacking off at work.
休日はぐうたら過ごすのが好きだ。
I like to laze around on my days off.