遅い · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 遅い | 遅くない |
| Polite | 遅いです | 遅くないですalso 遅くありません |
| Past polite | 遅かったです | 遅くなかったですalso 遅くありませんでした |
| Past | 遅かった | 遅くなかった |
| Te-form | 遅くて | 遅くなくて |
| Adverbial | 遅く | |
| Conditional | 遅ければ | 遅くなければ |
| Tara conditional | 遅かったら | 遅くなかったら |
Describes low speed of movement, action, or progress. Can refer to physical slowness or mental dullness.
This computer is slow.
He is a slow runner.
Indicates that something happens after the expected or usual time. Often used with time expressions.
I got up late this morning.
The train is late.
too late
Used in expressions like もう遅い or もはや遅い to mean that the opportunity has passed or it is no longer possible to act.
It's too late to apologize now.
Even if we leave now, we'll be too late for the meeting.
This computer runs slowly.
He's always late getting to meetings.
It's too late to apologize now.
Please don't call at a late hour.
遅い means slow, the direct opposite of 手早い's quick and efficient handling.
遅い means 'slow' or 'late', the direct opposite of 速やか's sense of prompt, without-delay action.
遅い means 'slow', the everyday opposite of 迅速's formal 'prompt/swift'.
遅い means 'slow' or 'late', the opposite of 早's sense of quickness or earliness.
late blooming; late flowering · late bloomer (person)
leaving late (for work); late departure · late shift
a little late; somewhat late · a little slow; somewhat slow
late · slowly
late-blooming cherry blossom
slow cow; slow ox
late spring frost
late sowing · doing late; belated
late reply; slow response
late-harvest rice; late rice
delayed mental development; cognitive delay; late-developing intelligence · hindsight; wisdom after the event
slightly late; just after
Occasionally used for 'late' senses, but rare in modern writing.