だるい

also: たるい

だ

る

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

sluggish; languid; listless; heavy; dull

usually written using kana alone

Describes a feeling of physical or mental lethargy, heaviness, or lack of energy. Often used for tiredness, illness, or hot weather.

今日きょうは暑あつくて体からだがだるい。
It's hot today and my body feels heavy.

風邪かぜでだるくて、何なにもする気きが起おきない。

I feel listless from a cold and can't bring myself to do anything.

2

i-adjective

bothersome; tiresome; pain-in-the-ass

usually written using kana aloneslang

Slang use expressing that something is annoying, tedious, or a hassle. Often used by younger speakers.

この宿しゅく題だい、マジでだるい。
This homework is seriously a pain.
毎まい日にち同おなじ作さ業ぎょうでだるくなってきた。
Doing the same task every day is getting tiresome.

Written forms

だるいUsage86%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 怠い is also used but less common.
怠いUsage7%
- だるい
  Kanji form; recognized but less frequent than kana.
- たるい
  out-dated reading
ダルいUsage7%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling used in casual writing for emphasis or style.
懈いUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
- だるい
  Rarely used kanji form.
- たるい
  out-dated reading
たるい
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana usage; not used in modern Japanese.

Kanji

怠neglect, laziness
懈laziness

Similar words

疲つかれた
疲れた means 'tired' from exertion, while だるい emphasizes a heavy, sluggish feeling often without clear cause.
面めん倒どうくさい
面倒くさい means 'bothersome' or 'too much trouble', similar to the slang sense of だるい, but だるい can also imply physical lethargy.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it may be related to the mimetic word だらだら (sluggishly). The kanji 怠 is associated with laziness or neglect, fitting the meaning.