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道Nihongo Path
惰

惰·lazy, inertia

On-yomi
ダ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
惰性だせいinertia, force of habit
怠惰たいだlaziness, idleness
惰眠だみんidle slumber
惰力だりょくmomentum, inertia

Example sentences

  1. 惰性で同じ仕事を続けている。

    だせいでおなじしごとをつづけている。

    I keep doing the same job out of sheer habit.

  2. 怠惰な生活を改めたい。

    たいだなせいかつをあらためたい。

    I want to change my idle lifestyle.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 惰性 as だしょう — it is だせい
  • Reading 怠惰 as たいた — it voices to たいだ

Memory aid

Picture it

A heart 忄 slumped beside a drooping right side — the feeling of just coasting along.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 惰 mean?