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道Nihongo Path
怠

怠·neglect, lazy

On-yomi
タイ
Kun-yomi
おこた(る)なま(ける)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
怠けるなまけるto be lazy, to slack off
怠慢たいまんnegligence
怠るおこたるto neglect (a duty)
怠惰たいだlaziness, idleness

Example sentences

  1. 練習を怠けてはいけない。

    れんしゅうをなまけてはいけない。

    You mustn't slack off on practice.

  2. 点検を怠ったために事故が起きた。

    てんけんをおこたったためにじこがおきた。

    The accident happened because the inspection was neglected.

  3. 彼の怠慢が問題になっている。

    かれのたいまんがもんだいになっている。

    His negligence has become an issue.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing up 怠ける (to be idle, of a person) and 怠る (to neglect a specific duty)
  • Reading 怠惰 as たいじゃ — it is たいだ

Memory aid

Picture it

台 (a platform, a stand) resting on the heart 心 — the heart parked on a stand, going nowhere: idleness.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 怠 mean?