Translation guide
Describes slow movement, low energy, or lack of responsiveness. Japanese uses different words for physical slowness, mental dullness, economic stagnation, and computer lag.
Describing someone or something that moves without energy or speed.
The most common word for slow movement, often with a negative nuance of being clumsy or dull.
彼は動きがのろい。
He is sluggish in his movements.
のろい亀でも、着実に進む。
Even a sluggish turtle makes steady progress.
Means dull or slow, often for senses, reflexes, or movements. Can describe a sluggish response.
今日は体が鈍い。
My body feels sluggish today.
Onomatopoeic adverb for dawdling or moving sluggishly, often used when someone is slow to act.
もたもたしてると遅刻するよ。
If you're sluggish, you'll be late.
Describing a state of low mental alertness or motivation.
Describes a heavy, languid feeling in the body or mind, like when tired or sick.
朝から体がだるくて、頭も働かない。
I've felt sluggish since morning, and my brain isn't working.
Adverb/noun for being spaced out, unfocused, or mentally sluggish.
A more literary or emotional word for listlessness or languor.
Describing something that operates or changes slowly.
General word for slow; can be used for computers, progress, or reactions.
このパソコンは動きが遅い。
This computer is sluggish.
景気の回復が遅い。
The economic recovery is sluggish.
Onomatopoeic word for slow, heavy, or unresponsive, often used for software or devices.
Means dull or inactive, often used for markets, business, or performance.
Describing liquids or streams that move slowly.
Verb meaning to stagnate or be sluggish, used for water or air that doesn't flow well.
川の流れがよどんでいる。
The river's flow is sluggish.
Means to stagnate or be at a standstill; used for traffic, negotiations, or flow.
交通が停滞している。
Traffic is sluggish.
のろい implies clumsiness or lack of agility, while 遅い simply means slow in speed or time. Use のろい for a person's sluggish movements, and 遅い for a slow computer or late arrival.
彼はのろいが、仕事は遅くない。
He is sluggish in movement, but his work is not slow.
The English loanword スラッギッシュ is not commonly used in Japanese. Stick to native words like のろい or 遅い.
寝不足で頭がぼんやりしている。
My mind is sluggish from lack of sleep.
春の午後は気だるい。
Spring afternoons make me feel sluggish.
このアプリ、もっさりしてて使いにくい。
This app is sluggish and hard to use.
市場は低調な動きだった。
The market was sluggish.