惰性
Meanings
1
force of habit; momentum of habit
Describes continuing an action or state simply because one has been doing it, without conscious thought or fresh intention. Often used in expressions like 惰性で続ける.
Taking the same route every day is just force of habit by now.
I want to break out of the state of just continuing work out of sheer momentum.
Usage patterns
- 惰性で〈動詞〉to do something purely out of habit, with no fresh motivation
I've been sticking with my current job for years now, purely out of habit.
- 惰性がつくto fall into a passive routine
Repeating the same daily routine, I ended up falling into a passive rut.
- 惰性を打破するto break out of a habitual rut
I want to break out of my rut by starting a new hobby.
- 惰性に流されるto be swept along by mere habit, without direction
Without any goals, I'm just drifting through my days out of habit.