“Slow” in Japanese is 遅い (おそい), pronounced osoi.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Slow, and also late. 遅くなってすみません: sorry I’m late.
Example sentences
- このパソコンは遅いです。このパソコンはおそいです。This computer is slow.
- 遅くなってすみません。おそくなってすみません。Sorry I’m late.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 遅い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 遅い おそい | slow |
| Polite present | 遅いです おそいです | is slow |
| Negative | 遅くないです おそくないです | isn’t slow |
| Past | 遅かったです おそかったです | was slow |
| Past negative | 遅くなかったです おそくなかったです | wasn’t slow |
| て-form | 遅くて おそくて | slow and… |
| Adverb (く) | 遅く おそく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say slow in Japanese?
Slow in Japanese is 遅い (おそい), pronounced “osoi”.
How do you write slow in Japanese?
It's written 遅い with kanji, or おそい in hiragana. Both are read osoi.
Is 遅い on the JLPT?
Yes. 遅い (osoi) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.