JLPT N1・N3 Vocabulary – Difference between “怠ける” and “怠る”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “怠ける” and “怠る”
2. 怠ける
3. 怠る
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: What is the difference between “怠ける” and “怠る”?
A: Both mean “not doing what should be done,” but “怠ける” is an emotional kind of laziness, while “怠る” means failing to fulfill a duty or responsibility.
怠ける (JLPT N3)
[Meaning]
Not doing what one is supposed to do;
An attitude of giving up on working or making an effort and not even trying to take action.
[Examples]
最近は勉強を怠けています。
I haven’t been studying recently.
仕事を怠けているのがバレて、先輩に怒られました。
I was caught slacking off at work and got scolded by my senior.
“怠ける” is used when someone avoids doing something in daily life due to emotional reasons, such as lack of motivation or feeling that it’s bothersome. It is a casual word commonly used in spoken language.
[Examples]
毎日怠けているうちに、成績が落ちてしまいました。
While I kept being lazy every day, my grades went down.
若いときは宿題を怠けてゲームばかりしていました。
When I was young, I skipped my homework and just played games.
[Related Words]
・怠け癖：A state where being lazy has become a habit.
[Example] 一度怠け癖がつくと、なかなか直せませんよ。
Once you get into the habit of being lazy, it’s hard to fix.
・怠け者：A person who doesn’t try to work or make an effort, and is always lazy.
[Example] あんなに怠け者だった生徒が、今では立派な経営者になって驚きました。
I was surprised that the student who used to be so lazy has now become a successful business owner.
[Similar Words]
・サボる：A more casual and colloquial expression, often used by students or young people.
[Example] 授業をサボって、近くの公園で遊びました。
I skipped class and played in a nearby park.
・だらける：A state of being loose or unmotivated, without self-discipline. It gives a more passive impression than “怠ける.”
[Example] だらけてばかりいると、周りにどんどん追い抜かれていくよ。
If you keep being lazy, others will keep passing you by.
怠る (JLPT N1)
[Meaning]
① Not fulfilling duties or responsibilities that should be carried out
② Being careless or letting one’s guard down by neglecting caution or effort
[Commonly Used With]
報告 (report)・連絡 (communication)・職務 (duty)・任務 (task)・注意 (caution)・努力 (effort)・警戒 (alertness) etc.
[Examples]
報告を怠ることは許されません。（①）
Failing to report will not be allowed.
注意を怠らなければ、このようなミスは起きなかったはずです。（②）
If you hadn’t neglected to be careful, this kind of mistake wouldn’t have happened.
“怠る” is a formal expression that differs from “怠ける.” It does not refer to a lack of personal motivation, but rather to failing to fulfill one’s duties or responsibilities. It is often used in social or organizational contexts, and is suitable for business or formal writing.
[Examples]
お客様への対応を怠ると、大きなクレームにつながります。
If you neglect to respond to customers properly, it can lead to serious complaints.
安全確認を怠ったため、大きな事故が起きてしまいました。
Because safety checks were neglected, a major accident happened.
一人の社員が任務を怠ったせいで、プロジェクトが大幅に遅れてしまいました。
Because one employee neglected their duty, the project was greatly delayed.
Also, when used with words like “caution,” “effort,” or “alertness,” it strongly emphasizes the nuance of having been careless or letting one’s guard down.
[Examples]
注意を怠ると、そのうち事故が起きますよ。
If you neglect to be careful, an accident will happen sooner or later.
少しずつでも日々の努力を怠ってはいけません。
Even little by little, you must not stop making effort every day.
Let’s Compare
Which expression is more appropriate in the following sentence?
[Examples]
① アルバイトを怠けてくびになりました。
② アルバイトを怠ってくびになりました。
The correct answer is ①.
This sentence describes a situation where the person had no motivation and was slacking off, which led to being fired. “怠ける” is appropriate because it conveys that the action was avoided for emotional reasons, such as a lack of will.
Now, how do the meanings differ in the following examples?
[Examples]
① 練習を怠けて、コーチに叱られました。
② 練習を怠って、コーチに叱られました。
In ①, the nuance is that the person skipped practice due to a lack of motivation or personal feelings.
In ②, the focus is on not fulfilling the duty or responsibility of practicing, making the tone slightly more formal and responsibility-focused.
In this way, “怠ける” refers to emotional or voluntary laziness, while “怠る” refers to failing to fulfill a duty or responsibility.
Use them properly depending on the context and situation.
Summary
[怠ける]
- It is a commonly used word in daily life that describes avoiding action due to personal feelings such as lack of motivation or thinking something is bothersome.
[怠る]
- It is a formal expression that means: ① not fulfilling one’s duties or responsibilities, or ② when used with words like “caution,” “alertness,” or “effort,” it implies carelessness or a lack of focus.
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. 怠った
業務連絡を怠ったことで、大きなトラブルが起きました。
A big problem happened because someone failed to give a work-related message.
*“怠る” is appropriate because it means failing to fulfill a work-related duty.
A. 怠けて
息子は受験生なのに、勉強を怠けて遊んでばかりいます。
Even though he’s a student preparing for exams, he keeps being lazy and just plays.
*“怠ける” fits because it shows a lack of motivation.
A. 怠ら
もし安全確認を怠らなければ、事故は防げたはずです。
If they hadn’t skipped the safety check, the accident could have been avoided.
*“怠る” is correct since it refers to not carrying out a required responsibility.
A. 怠ける
すぐに怠ける癖がつくと、良くないですよ。
If you get into the habit of being lazy, it’s not good.
*“怠ける” is natural here, as it describes a lack of motivation becoming a habit.
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