いとま

い

と

ま

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers to time when one is not busy; often used in set phrases like いとまがない (have no free time).

usually written using kana alone

Specifically time away from work or duties; can be used for holidays or personal leave.

usually written using kana alonedated term

Dated usage; refers to leaving a job or ending a marriage. Now mostly seen in historical contexts or set expressions.

leaving; farewell; taking one's leave

usually written using kana alone

Often used in the polite expression おいとま (see cross-reference). Indicates departure or saying goodbye.

〈事こと〉にいとまがないthere's no end to ~; too numerous to count
彼かれの失しっ敗ぱいは数かぞえ上あげればいとまがない。
His mistakes are too numerous to count.
いとまを告つげるto say one's farewell; to take one's leave
客きゃくはホストにいとまを告つげて帰かえった。
The guest said his farewells to the host and left.
いとまを取とるto take time off; to take a leave of absence
彼かれは一いっ週しゅう間かんのいとまを取とって旅りょ行こうに出でた。
He took a week off and went on a trip.
いとまを出だすto dismiss (an employee); to divorce (one's spouse) — dated usage
主しゅ人じんは使し用よう人にんにいとまを出だした。
The master dismissed his servant.

暇ひまN5sense 1
ひま is the everyday, common word for free time, while いとま is a formal, mostly literary word confined to set phrases.

忙いそがしいN5sense 1
忙しい describes being busy with no spare time, the opposite state from having いとま (free time).

お暇いとまpolite 丁寧語sense 4
おいとま is the polite form used when announcing one's own departure, while いとま alone is rarely used this way in modern speech.

お暇いとま
taking leave; leaving; going home · leaving one's employment; quitting one's job; being dismissed
暇いとま乞ごい
leave-taking; saying goodbye · requesting leave from work

いとまUsage89%
Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 暇 is also used but less common.
遑いとまUsage6%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
暇いとまUsage4%
Kanji spelling; can also be read ひま, so context is needed.
イトマUsage2%

The origin is uncertain; the word has been used since classical Japanese with meanings related to 'interval' or 'spare time'.