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なおざり (naozari) Japanese meaning: neglect | Kotomora

なおざり

な

お

ざ

り

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

neglect; disregard; making light of

usually written using kana alone

Describes treating something as unimportant, not giving it proper attention, or leaving it undone. Often used with verbs like する or にされる.

彼かれは仕し事ごとをなおざりにして遊あそんでばかりいる。

He neglects his work and just plays around.

安あん全ぜん対たい策さくがなおざりにされていた。

Safety measures had been disregarded.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉をなおざりにするto neglect something
彼かれは仕し事ごとに忙いそがしくて、健けん康こうをなおざりにしていた。
He was so busy with work that he neglected his health.
〈事こと〉がなおざりになるfor something to end up neglected
試し験けん前まえでも、部屋へやの掃そう除じがなおざりになりがちだ。
Even before exams, cleaning the room tends to get neglected.
〈事こと〉がなおざりにされるfor something to be left neglected (by someone)
会かい議ぎでは、環かん境きょう問もん題だいがなおざりにされがちだ。
In meetings, environmental issues tend to be brushed aside.
なおざりな態たい度どa careless, neglectful attitude
彼かれのなおざりな態たい度どに、上じょう司しは苦く言げんを呈ていした。
His boss criticized him for his careless attitude.

Kanji

等etc., and so forth, class (first)
閑leisure

Related words

おろそかN2
おろそか and なおざり both mean neglecting something, but なおざり suggests a more deliberate, conscious disregard while おろそか often results from mere carelessness or inattention.
軽けい視しN1
軽視 is a more formal, often written term for undervaluing or making light of something, whereas なおざり emphasizes leaving a matter untended rather than judging its importance.
放ほう置ちN1
放置 focuses on physically leaving something unattended or abandoned, while なおざり is broader and can describe neglecting duties, feelings, or relationships as well.

Opposites

丁てい寧ねいN4
丁寧 describes doing something carefully and attentively, the opposite of treating it なおざりに (carelessly, with neglect).
念ねん入いりN1
念入り means thorough and painstaking effort, standing in contrast to なおざり, which means treating something without proper care.

Written forms

Applies to each form listed below

gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

なおざりUsage88%
Kana spelling is standard; the kanji form 等閑 is rare and literary.
等閑なおざりUsage12%
Literary kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 等閑 are a jukujikun reading, conventionally associated with the meaning of neglect.