When Is “Late“ in Japanese?389

The Japanese language has a rich and complex system of time expressions, and the concept of "late" can be expressed in a variety of ways, depending on the context. In this article, we will explore the different ways to say "late" in Japanese, and how to use them correctly.

Common Ways to Say "Late"

There are several common ways to say "late" in Japanese. The most basic word is 遅い (おそい, osoi), which means "slow" or "late." It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as:
The train is late. (電車が遅れています。, densha ga osokuteimasu.)
I'm late for work. (仕事に遅刻しました。, shigoto ni chikoku shimashita.)
The movie started late. (映画が遅れて始まりました。, eiga ga osokurete hajimarimashita.)

Another common way to say "late" is 遅刻 (ちこく, chikoku), which means "tardiness" or "being late." It is often used in formal contexts, such as:
I apologize for being late. (遅刻して申し訳ありません。, chikoku shite mōshiwakearimasen.)
The meeting was delayed due to a late arrival. (会議は遅刻のため延期されました。, kaigi wa chikoku no tame enki saremashita.)

Other Ways to Express "Late"

In addition to the common words above, there are several other ways to express "late" in Japanese. These include:
遅延 (ちえん, chien): This word means "delay" or "tardiness." It is often used in technical contexts, such as:
The flight was delayed due to bad weather. (飛行機は悪天候のため遅延しました。, hikōki wa akutenkō no tame chien shimashita.)
後刻 (こうこく, kōkoku): This word means "later" or "after a while." It can be used to indicate that something will happen at a later time, such as:
I'll call you later. (後で電話します。, atode denwa shimasu.)
遅く (おそく, osoku): This word is the adverb form of 遅い (おそい, osoi), and it means "late" or "slowly." It can be used to describe the time of day, as well as the speed of something, such as:
I'll come home late tonight. (今夜遅く帰ります。, konya osoku kaerimasu.)
The car was driving slowly. (車は遅く走っていました。, kuruma wa osoku hashitemashita.)

Choosing the Right Expression

The best way to say "late" in Japanese depends on the context. For general use, 遅い (おそい, osoi) and 遅刻 (ちこく, chikoku) are the most common choices. However, the other expressions can be used in specific situations to convey a more precise meaning.

Here are some tips for choosing the right expression:
Use 遅い (おそい, osoi) for general expressions of lateness, such as "The train is late." or "I'm late for work."
Use 遅刻 (ちこく, chikoku) in formal contexts, or when apologizing for being late.
Use 遅延 (ちえん, chien) in technical contexts, such as when describing a flight delay.
Use 後刻 (こうこく, kōkoku) to indicate that something will happen at a later time.
Use 遅く (おそく, osoku) to describe the time of day or the speed of something.

Conclusion

The Japanese language has a variety of ways to express the concept of "late." By understanding the different nuances of these expressions, you can communicate more effectively in Japanese.

2024-12-17

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