Explanation at your level:
Hello! Today we learn a word: 遅れる (okureru). This word means 'to be late'. Imagine you are going to play with a friend, but you arrive after your friend. You are late. That is 遅れる. You can say 'I am late' in Japanese. It is simple! You will use this word when you are not on time for something. Like school, or a party. Don't worry, everyone is late sometimes!
The verb 遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. You use it when you arrive after the planned time. For example, if the train is supposed to come at 10:00 but it comes at 10:15, you can say 'The train is late' (電車が遅れる - densha ga okureru). If you are late for class, you say 'I am late for class' (授業に遅れる - jugyou ni okureru). It's important to know this word for daily communication!
遅れる (okureru) is a fundamental verb meaning 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. It can apply to people arriving late for events, appointments, or school, using the particle に (e.g., 友達に遅れる - to be late for a friend). It also applies to things like transportation being delayed (e.g., バスが遅れる - the bus is delayed). Mastering 遅れる is key for discussing schedules and punctuality in Japanese. You'll often use it with apologies like 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen - sorry I'm late).
The verb 遅れる (okureru) signifies being late or delayed. It's used both for personal tardiness, often with the particle に indicating the destination or event (e.g., 会議に遅れる - to be late for the meeting), and for the delay of inanimate objects or events (e.g., 飛行機が遅れる - the plane is delayed). Understanding its nuances helps in expressing punctuality issues accurately. Consider its use in phrases like 遅れをとる (okure o toru - to fall behind), which adds a layer of competitive or comparative meaning.
遅れる (okureru) encompasses the concept of delay or lateness, extending beyond simple tardiness. It can describe personal lateness (e.g., 約束に遅れる - to be late for an appointment) or the delay of scheduled events or services (e.g., 試合が遅れる - the match is delayed). The verb's flexibility allows it to be used in various contexts, from everyday apologies to more formal discussions about logistics. Idiomatic uses, such as 遅れをとる (okure o toru - to lag behind), highlight its broader semantic range, implying a failure to keep pace or maintain a standard.
The verb 遅れる (okureru) signifies a deviation from expected or scheduled timing, manifesting as lateness or delay. Its application spans personal punctuality (e.g., 重要な会議に遅れる - to be late for an important meeting) and the temporal displacement of events or objects (e.g., 納期が遅れる - the delivery date is delayed). The kanji 遅 itself, meaning 'slow' or 'late', provides etymological depth. Beyond its literal meaning, 遅れる informs idiomatic expressions like 遅れ馳せながら (okurebasenagara - belatedly), demonstrating its integration into nuanced communicative strategies. Its usage reflects a deep cultural understanding of time and its management.
Word in 30 Seconds
- 遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'.
- Used for people, transportation, events, and projects.
- Often requires the particle に (ni) when indicating what you are late for.
- Commonly used in apologies like 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen).
Hey there! Let's dive into the Japanese verb 遅れる (okureru). It's a super useful word that means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. Think about all the times you might be a little behind schedule – maybe you overslept, got stuck in traffic, or just lost track of time. That's exactly when you'd use 遅れる!
It's not just about people being late, though. Things can be delayed too! A train might be late, or a project deadline might be pushed back. So, 遅れる covers a pretty wide range of situations where something doesn't happen exactly when it's supposed to. It's a fundamental verb for navigating daily life and understanding schedules.
Understanding 遅れる helps you communicate effectively about timing. You can use it to apologize if you're late, to ask if someone else is running behind, or to simply state that an event or service is delayed. It's a word you'll definitely hear and use a lot as you learn Japanese!
The verb 遅れる (okureru) has roots stretching back into classical Japanese. Its origin is closely tied to the kanji 遅, which itself carries the meaning of 'slow' or 'late'. This kanji has been around for a very long time, appearing in ancient texts.
The verb form, 遅れる, likely developed as a natural extension of the concept of slowness. If something is slow, it tends to arrive later. Over centuries, the verb solidified its meaning to specifically denote being late or delayed. It's a straightforward evolution, reflecting a basic human experience: the passage of time and the occasional disruption of schedules.
Interestingly, the concept of being late is universal, and many languages have specific verbs to express this. While the exact etymological path might differ, the core idea remains the same. The Japanese 遅れる is a clear example of how language evolves to describe common phenomena. It's a testament to the enduring need to communicate about punctuality and its absence.
遅れる (okureru) is incredibly versatile! You can use it for personal lateness, like 学校に遅れる (gakkou ni okureru) – 'to be late for school'. It's also perfect for public transport: 電車が遅れる (densha ga okureru) – 'the train is delayed'.
When you're talking about appointments or meetings, you might say 会議に遅れる (kaigi ni okureru) – 'to be late for the meeting'. If you need to apologize, a simple 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen) – 'Sorry I'm late' – works wonders!
It's important to note the particle に (ni) often follows the place or event you are late *for*. So, it's not just 遅れる, but 遅れるに. This is a common pattern you'll see. For things being delayed, like a package, you might hear 荷物が遅れる (nimotsu ga okureru) – 'the package is delayed'. The subject of the sentence is usually the thing that is late, marked by が (ga).
While 遅れる itself is quite direct, it appears in many common phrases. Here are a few:
- 遅れをとる (okure o toru): This literally means 'to take lateness' but idiomatically means 'to fall behind' or 'to be outdone'. It's used when someone is not keeping up with others. Example: 彼はいつも最新の技術に遅れをとっている。(Kare wa itsumo saishin no gijutsu ni okure o totte iru.) - He is always falling behind with the latest technology.
- 遅れ馳せながら (okurebasenagara): This is a polite way to say 'belatedly' or 'tardily', often used for congratulations or apologies. Example: 遅れ馳せながら、誕生日おめでとうございます！(Okurebasenagara, tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu!) - Belatedly, happy birthday!
- 遅れをとらないように (okure o toranai you ni): This phrase means 'so as not to fall behind'. It's about staying competitive or up-to-date. Example: 競争に遅れをとらないように、毎日勉強しています。(Kyousou ni okure o toranai you ni, mainichi benkyou shite imasu.) - I study every day so as not to fall behind in the competition.
- 遅れに遅れる (okure ni okureru): This emphasizes extreme lateness or delay, meaning 'to be extremely late' or 'to be severely delayed'. Example: 飛行機が遅れに遅れて、大変でした。(Hikouki ga okure ni okurete, taihen deshita.) - The flight was severely delayed, and it was terrible.
遅れる (okureru) is a Group 2 verb (ichidan verb) in Japanese, which makes its conjugation quite straightforward. For example, the past tense is 遅れた (okureta), and the negative is 遅れない (okurenai).
Pronunciation-wise, it's 'o-ku-re-ru'. The 'o' is like the 'o' in 'go', 'ku' is like 'coo' but with a 'k', 're' is like 'ray', and 'ru' is a soft 'roo' sound, almost like 'r(u)' where the 'u' is very light or omitted.
British English IPA: /əˈkʌrəns/ (This is for the noun 'occurrence', the verb 'to occur' is /əˈkɜː/ - the Japanese word is pronounced differently!)
American English IPA: /əˈkɝ/ (Again, for 'occur'. The Japanese word is pronounced 'o-ku-re-ru'.)
Let's break down the sounds: 'o' is a clear 'oh' sound. 'ku' is like 'coo' but with a distinct 'k'. 're' is similar to 'ray'. 'ru' is a light 'roo' sound, often with the 'u' almost silent. The stress is fairly even across the syllables, but if there's any emphasis, it might slightly fall on 're'.
Rhyming words are tricky in Japanese as pronunciation is very regular. Words ending in '-reru' might be considered near rhymes, but it's not a common concept like in English. Think of verbs like 触れる (fureru - to touch) or 照れる (tereru - to be shy).
Fun Fact
The concept of being late is so fundamental that most languages have a dedicated verb for it. The Japanese 遅れる is a direct and clear expression of this universal experience.
Pronunciation Guide
This IPA is for the English word 'occurrence'. The Japanese word 遅れる (okureru) is pronounced 'o-ku-re-ru'. The 'o' is like in 'go', 'ku' like 'coo', 're' like 'ray', and 'ru' is a soft 'roo'.
This IPA is for the English word 'occur'. The Japanese word 遅れる (okureru) is pronounced 'o-ku-re-ru'. The emphasis is relatively even across the syllables.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'ru' too strongly.
- Mixing up the sounds with similar-sounding words like くれる (kureru).
- Incorrectly stressing syllables.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in context, especially with common phrases.
Straightforward conjugation, but requires correct particle usage.
Commonly used, pronunciation is relatively easy.
Frequently heard in daily conversations and media.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Verb Conjugation (Group 2)
遅れる -> 遅れます (okuremasu), 遅れた (okureta), 遅れない (okurenai)
Particles に and が
会議<strong>に</strong>遅れる (event marker), 電車<strong>が</strong>遅れる (subject marker)
〜てしまう (Te Shimau)
遅れてしまった (Okurete shimatta) - Ended up being late (implies regret)
Examples by Level
私は遅れます。
I / late-will be.
Present progressive/future tense for 'okureru' is often the same as the dictionary form.
電車は遅れますか？
Train / late-will be? (Question marker)
Question particle か (ka) turns a statement into a question.
ごめん、遅れた！
Sorry, / late-was! (Casual)
Past tense 遅れた (okureta) is used for something that just happened.
学校に遅れないでください。
School / to / late-don't be (Negative command).
Negative command form: ないでください (naide kudasai).
バスが遅れています。
Bus / late-is (Progressive).
Progressive form 〜ています (te imasu) shows an ongoing state.
会議に遅れた。
Meeting / to / late-was.
Particle に (ni) marks the destination or event one is late for.
彼はいつも遅い。
He / always / late (Adjective).
遅い (osoi) is an adjective meaning 'slow' or 'late'.
時計が遅れている。
Clock / late-is (Progressive).
This uses the progressive form to indicate the clock is not showing the correct time.
明日の会議に遅れないように、早く寝ます。
Tomorrow's / meeting / to / late-not be / so that, / early / sleep.
〜ように (you ni) expresses purpose or intention.
電車が遅れたので、授業に間に合いませんでした。
Train / late-was / because, / class / to / arrive-in-time / could not.
〜ので (node) is a common conjunction for 'because'.
約束の時間に遅れる場合は、連絡してください。
Appointment's / time / at / late-if, / contact / please do.
〜場合は (baai wa) means 'in case' or 'if'.
彼の返事が遅れたので、心配しました。
His / reply / was late / because, / worried / did.
〜ので (node) is used to give a reason.
このバスはよく遅れる。
This / bus / often / late-is (habitual).
The dictionary form can indicate habitual actions.
締め切りに遅れると、罰金があります。
Deadline / to / late-if, / penalty / exists.
〜と (to) can indicate a consequence.
遅れてごめんなさい。道が混んでいました。
Late / sorry. / Road / crowded / was.
A common excuse for being late.
プロジェクトの完了が遅れるかもしれません。
Project's / completion / might be delayed.
〜かもしれません (kamoshiremasen) expresses possibility.
重要な会議に遅れるわけにはいきません。
Important / meeting / to / late / reason / cannot go (cannot afford to).
〜わけにはいかない (wake ni wa ikanai) expresses that one cannot do something due to circumstances or obligation.
飛行機の遅延により、予定より大幅に遅れて到着しました。
Airplane's / delay / due to, / schedule / than / greatly / late / arrived.
〜により (ni yori) is a formal way of saying 'due to'.
彼はいつも周りのペースに遅れをとっているように見える。
He / always / surrounding / pace / to / lag behind / seems.
遅れをとる (okure o toru) means 'to fall behind'.
遅れ馳せながら、結婚おめでとうございます。
Belatedly, / marriage / congratulations.
遅れ馳せながら (okurebasenagara) is a polite expression for belated wishes.
締め切りに遅れないよう、徹夜で作業した。
Deadline / to / not be late / so that, / all night / worked.
〜よう (you) in this context means 'in order to not'.
そのニュースを聞くのが遅れたため、情報が古くなってしまった。
That / news / hear / 's / was late / because, / information / old / became.
〜ため (tame) is a conjunction similar to 'because' or 'due to'.
電車の遅延で、待ち合わせに遅れてしまった。
Train's / delay / because of, / meeting / to / late / ended up.
〜てしまう (te shimau) indicates an unintended or regrettable action.
技術の進歩に遅れないように、常に学び続ける必要がある。
Technology's / progress / to / not be late / so that, / always / continue learning / need.
〜続ける (tsuzukeru) means 'to continue doing'.
予想外の悪天候により、フライトが数時間遅れる見込みです。
Unexpected / bad weather / due to, / flight / several hours / delay / is expected.
〜見込みです (mikomi desu) means 'is expected' or 'is projected'.
彼は常に時代の最先端を行こうとするが、時折、そのスピードに遅れをとってしまう。
He / always / era's / cutting edge / go / tries, / but / sometimes, / that speed / to / lag behind / ends up.
最先端 (saisentan) means 'cutting edge' or 'forefront'.
遅れ馳せながら、この度の受賞、誠におめでとうございます。
Belatedly, / this time's / award, / truly / congratulations.
誠に (makoto ni) is a very formal way to say 'truly' or 'sincerely'.
プロジェクトの遅延は、予算超過の主な原因の一つとなった。
Project's / delay / is, / budget overrun / main cause / one / became.
予算超過 (yosan chouka) means 'budget overrun'.
最新の動向に遅れをとらないためには、継続的な情報収集が不可欠だ。
Latest / trends / to / not fall behind / in order to, / continuous / information gathering / essential / is.
不可欠 (fukaketsu) means 'essential' or 'indispensable'.
遅刻の常習犯である彼に、今回は厳重注意が与えられた。
Latecomer / habitual offender / being / him / this time / strict warning / was given.
常習犯 (joushuuhan) means 'habitual offender'.
そのシステムは旧式のため、最新のソフトウェアアップデートに遅れをとっている。
That / system / old-fashioned / because, / latest / software updates / to / is lagging behind.
旧式 (kyuushiki) means 'old-fashioned' or 'obsolete'.
遅れてきた参加者にも、公平に情報が共有されるべきだ。
Late / arrived / participants / even to, / fairly / information / should be shared.
公平に (kouhei ni) means 'fairly' or 'impartially'.
技術革新のスピードに追随できず、多くの企業が市場での優位性に遅れをとっている。
Technological innovation's / speed / to / keep up / unable, / many companies / market / in / superiority / are falling behind.
技術革新 (gijutsu kakushin) means 'technological innovation'.
遅れ馳せながらも、彼の功績は高く評価されるべきである。
Belatedly though it may be, / his / achievements / highly / should be evaluated.
功績 (kouseki) means 'achievement' or 'merit'.
慢性的な人手不足により、公共サービスの提供が遅れる事態が頻発している。
Chronic / labor shortage / due to, / public services / provision / is delayed / situation / frequently occurs.
慢性的な (manseiteki na) means 'chronic'.
彼は常に時代の潮流を先取りしようとするが、その野心的な計画はしばしば現実の制約に遅れをとる。
He / always / era's / trends / anticipate / tries, / but / his ambitious plans / often / reality's / constraints / are lagging behind.
潮流 (chouryuu) means 'trend' or 'current'.
遅刻は許されないという厳格な規則にもかかわらず、彼の遅延癖は改善の兆しを見せない。
Being late / is not forgiven / strict / rules / despite, / his / lateness habit / improvement / signs / does not show.
遅延癖 (chienpyaku) means 'habit of being late'.
その研究は、当初の予定よりも大幅に遅れているが、その価値は計り知れない。
That / research / initial / schedule / than / greatly / is delayed, / but / its value / immeasurable / is.
計り知れない (hakarishirenai) means 'immeasurable' or 'incalculable'.
グローバル化の波に遅れをとらぬよう、異文化理解の重要性が増している。
Globalization's / wave / to / not fall behind, / cross-cultural understanding / importance / is increasing.
異文化理解 (ibunka rikai) means 'cross-cultural understanding'.
遅れ馳せながらも、その問題提起は議論に新たな視座をもたらした。
Belatedly though it may be, / that / issue raising / discussion / to / new perspective / brought.
視座 (shiza) means 'viewpoint' or 'perspective'.
歴史の必然たる進歩の歩みに対し、個人の遅れは些細なものに過ぎない。
History's / inevitable / progress's / march / towards, / individual's / lateness / trivial / thing / merely is.
必然 (hitsuzen) means 'inevitable' or 'necessary'.
彼は常に時代の先駆者であろうとしたが、その革新性はしばしば大衆の理解に遅れをとった。
He / always / era's / pioneer / try to be, / but / his innovativeness / often / masses' / understanding / lagged behind.
先駆者 (senkusha) means 'pioneer'.
遅れ馳せながらも、その芸術作品が持つ普遍的なメッセージ性は、時代を超えて共感を呼ぶ。
Belatedly though it may be, / that / artwork / possesses / universal / message quality / era / beyond / resonance / calls.
普遍的 (fuhenteki) means 'universal'.
産業革命以降、技術の進歩は指数関数的に加速し、多くの人々がその変化に遅れをとることを余儀なくされた。
Industrial Revolution / since, / technology's / progress / exponentially / accelerated, / many people / that change / to / lagging behind / were forced.
指数関数的 (shisuukansuteki) means 'exponential'.
彼の遅延癖は、単なる怠慢ではなく、根深い心理的要因に起因するものと分析された。
His / lateness habit / mere / laziness / not, / deep-rooted / psychological factors / from / originates / analyzed / was.
起因する (kiin suru) means 'to originate from' or 'to be caused by'.
遅れ馳せながらも、その発見は科学界にパラダイムシフトをもたらした。
Belatedly though it may be, / that / discovery / scientific community / paradigm shift / brought.
パラダイムシフト (paradaimu shifuto) means 'paradigm shift'.
グローバル経済の複雑な相互依存関係の中で、一国の遅れは連鎖反応を引き起こしかねない。
Global economy's / complex / interdependence / within, / one country's / delay / chain reaction / can cause.
連鎖反応 (rensa hannou) means 'chain reaction'.
歴史の歯車は容赦なく進み、その流れに遅れる者は、しばしば時代の傍観者となる運命にあった。
History's / gears / relentlessly / move forward, / that flow / to / lag behind / those / often / era's / bystander / become / fate / had.
傍観者 (boukansha) means 'bystander' or 'onlooker'.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"遅れをとる (okure o toru)"
To fall behind; to be outdone; to not keep up.
彼女はいつも新しいトレンドに遅れをとっている。(Kanojo wa itsumo atarashii torendo ni okure o totte iru.)
neutral"遅れ馳せながら (okurebasenagara)"
Belatedly; tardily (used for congratulations, apologies, etc.).
遅れ馳せながら、ご結婚おめでとうございます。(Okurebasenagara, gokekkon omedetou gozaimasu.)
formal"遅れに遅れる (okure ni okureru)"
To be extremely late; to be severely delayed.
悪天候のため、飛行機は遅れに遅れた。(Akutenkou no tame, hikouki wa okure ni okureta.)
neutral"遅れずについていく (okurezu ni tsuite iku)"
To keep up without falling behind; to keep pace.
時代の変化に遅れずについていくのは難しい。(Jidai no henka ni okurezu ni tsuite iku no wa muzukashii.)
neutral"遅れをとらせない (okure o torasenai)"
Not to let someone fall behind; to help someone keep up.
先生は生徒たちが遅れをとらせないように熱心に教えた。(Sensei wa seitotachi ga okure o torasenai you ni nesshin ni oshierta.)
neutral"遅れをきたす (okure wo kitasu)"
To cause a delay; to bring about a delay.
不注意が事故を招き、プロジェクトに遅れをきたした。(Fuchuui ga jiko wo maneki, purojekuto ni okure wo kitashita.)
formalEasily Confused
Similar pronunciation ('o-ku-re-ru' vs 'ku-re-ru').
くれる (kureru) is a verb meaning 'to give' (from someone else to me/us). 遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late'.
先生が本をくれた。(Sensei ga hon wo kureta.) - The teacher gave me a book. 電車が遅れた。(Densha ga okureta.) - The train was late.
Both relate to the concept of 'late' or 'slow'.
遅い (osoi) is an adjective (slow, late). 遅れる (okureru) is a verb (to be late, to be delayed).
時計が遅い。(Tokei ga osoi.) - The clock is slow. 電車に遅れた。(Densha ni okureta.) - I was late for the train.
Opposite concepts (fast vs. slow/late).
速い (hayai) means 'fast' or 'quick'. 遅い (osoi) means 'slow', and 遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late'.
速い車 (hayai kuruma) - fast car. 遅い車 (osoi kuruma) - slow car. 会議に遅れる (kaigi ni okureru) - to be late for the meeting.
Related in meaning (delay).
遅延 (chien) is a noun meaning 'delay'. 遅れる (okureru) is the verb 'to be delayed' or 'to be late'.
電車の遅延 (densha no chien) - train delay. 電車が遅れる (densha ga okureru) - the train is delayed.
Sentence Patterns
Noun + に + 遅れる
友達に遅れる (Tomodachi ni okureru) - To be late for a friend.
Subject + が + 遅れる
バスが遅れる (Basu ga okureru) - The bus is delayed.
遅れて + Verb/Adjective
遅れてすみません (Okurete sumimasen) - Sorry I'm late.
〜ないように + 遅れる
締め切りに遅れないように頑張る (Shimekiri ni okurenai you ni ganbaru) - I'll work hard so as not to be late for the deadline.
遅れ + を + とる
競争に遅れをとらない (Kyousou ni okure o toranai) - Not to fall behind in the competition.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
遅い (osoi) is an adjective meaning 'slow' or 'late'. 遅れる (okureru) is the verb meaning 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. You can't say '私は遅いです' (watashi wa osoi desu) to mean 'I am late'; you need '私は遅れます' (watashi wa okuremasu).
The particle に (ni) is crucial for marking the destination or event that you are late for. Simply saying '会議遅れる' (kaigi okureru) is grammatically incorrect.
These sound very similar but have completely different meanings. 遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late'. くれる (kureru) is a verb meaning 'to give' (when the giver is someone other than the speaker or their in-group). Pay close attention to the vowel sound: 'o-ku-re-ru' vs 'ku-re-ru'.
While related, 遅れる (okureru) specifically means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. If something is moving slowly or takes a long time to do, use the adjective 遅い (osoi). For example, 'This car is slow' is この車は遅いです (kono kuruma wa osoi desu).
While 遅れる (okureru) can be used for things like train delays, in very formal or specific contexts (like payment delays or official announcements), 延滞する (entai suru) or 遅延する (chien suru) might be more appropriate.
Tips
The 'Ogre' Trick
Remember 'Ogre-reru' sounds like 'okureru'. Imagine a clumsy ogre who is always late for his ogre duties!
Always Add Context
Don't just say you're late. Specify *what* you're late for using the particle に (ni), like 学校に遅れる (gakkou ni okureru) or 会議に遅れる (kaigi ni okureru).
The Art of Apology
In Japan, apologizing for lateness is crucial. Master 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen) – it goes a long way!
Verb Group 2!
遅れる is a Group 2 (ichidan) verb. This means its '-masu' form is 遅れます (okuremasu), past is 遅れた (okureta), and negative is 遅れない (okurenai). Easy conjugation!
Smooth 'Ru'
Practice the 'ru' sound at the end. It's soft, almost like 'r(u)', not a hard 'roo'. Keep it light!
Adjective vs. Verb
Remember 遅い (osoi) is an adjective (slow/late), while 遅れる (okureru) is the verb (to be late/delayed). Don't mix them up!
Punctuality Pride
Japanese trains are world-famous for their punctuality. A delay of even a minute can be announced with an apology!
Schedule Yourself
Try to intentionally schedule things and then 'be late' (in a practice scenario!) to reinforce the usage of 遅れる.
Things Get Delayed Too!
Don't forget 遅れる applies to objects and events, not just people. Think: 'The train is late', 'The package is delayed'.
Subject Marker が
When talking about *what* is delayed (like a train), use the subject marker が (ga): 電車が遅れる (densha ga okureru).
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine an 'Ogre' who is always 'late' for everything. 'Ogre-reru' sounds a bit like 'okureru'.
Visual Association
Picture a clock with its hands spinning backwards, showing it's running late.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 遅れる in sentences about your own daily schedule for a week.
Word Origin
Japanese
Original meaning: The kanji 遅 (chi) means 'slow' or 'late'. The verb form 遅れる (okureru) evolved from this concept.
Cultural Context
Apologizing sincerely when late is generally appreciated in Japanese culture. Using phrases like 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen) is important.
In many English-speaking cultures, punctuality is highly valued, especially in business. Being late can be seen as disrespectful. However, the degree of formality and tolerance for lateness can vary significantly between cultures and situations.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Commuting / Travel
- 電車が遅れるかもしれません。(Densha ga okureru kamoshiremasen.) - The train might be delayed.
- 約束の時間に遅れないように家を出た。(Yakusoku no jikan ni okurenai you ni ie wo deta.) - I left home so as not to be late for the appointment.
- 遅れてごめん！渋滞してた。(Okurete gomen! Juutai shitetta.) - Sorry I'm late! There was traffic.
School / Work
- 授業に遅れてしまった。(Jugyou ni okurete shimatta.) - I ended up being late for class.
- 会議に遅れる場合は、事前に連絡してください。(Kaigi ni okureru baai wa, jizen ni renraku shite kudasai.) - If you are going to be late for the meeting, please contact us in advance.
- 締め切りに遅れないように頑張ります。(Shimekiri ni okurenai you ni ganbarimasu.) - I will do my best not to be late for the deadline.
Social Gatherings
- パーティーに遅れて到着した。(Paatii ni okurete touchaku shita.) - I arrived late to the party.
- 遅れ馳せながら、お誕生日おめでとう！(Okurebasenagara, otanjoubi omedetou!) - Belated happy birthday!
- みんなを待たせて遅れるのは失礼だ。(Minna wo matasete okureru no wa shitsurei da.) - It's rude to keep everyone waiting and be late.
General Delays
- 荷物の配達が遅れるようです。(Nimotsu no haitatsu ga okureru you desu.) - It seems the package delivery will be delayed.
- プロジェクトの進捗が遅れている。(Purojekuto no shinchoku ga okurete iru.) - The project's progress is delayed.
- 彼の返事が遅れた。(Kare no henji ga okureta.) - His reply was late.
Conversation Starters
"What's the longest you've ever been late for something?"
"Do you think Japanese trains are generally punctual? Why?"
"What's the best excuse you've ever heard for someone being late?"
"How do you feel when someone is late for an appointment with you?"
"If a train is delayed, what do you usually do while waiting?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were significantly late for an important event. What happened?
Write about the importance of punctuality in your culture.
Imagine you are a train conductor. Write a short announcement about a delay.
Reflect on a situation where being late had a positive outcome (if any!).
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions遅れる (okureru) is a general verb meaning 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'. 遅刻する (chikoku suru) specifically refers to being late for a scheduled event like school, work, or an appointment. 遅刻する is often considered slightly more formal or specific in context.
Yes! It's very common to use 遅れる for things like trains (電車が遅れる), flights (飛行機が遅れる), deliveries (荷物が遅れる), or even projects (プロジェクトが遅れる).
A common and polite way is 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen) or 遅れてごめんなさい (okurete gomen nasai - slightly more casual). You can add a reason if you like.
Yes, the noun form is 遅れ (okure), meaning 'lateness' or 'delay'. For example, 電車の遅れ (densha no okure) means 'train delay'.
It's an idiom that means 'to fall behind' or 'to be outdone'. It's used when someone isn't keeping up with others in terms of progress, skill, or trends.
Generally, punctuality is highly valued in Japan. Being late, especially for appointments or formal occasions, is considered impolite. If you anticipate being late, it's customary to inform the person you are meeting as soon as possible.
The most common way to say 'on time' is 間に合う (ma ni au). You can also use 定刻通り (teikoku doori) for 'exactly on schedule'.
遅れる (okureru) is a general verb for being late or delayed. 遅延する (chien suru) is a more formal verb, often used in official contexts, especially for transportation delays (like train or flight schedules) or payment delays.
Test Yourself
私は学校に ______。
The sentence means 'I am late for school'. 遅れます (okuremasu) means 'will be late'.
Which word means 'to be delayed'?
遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'.
電車が遅れる means 'The train is early'.
電車が遅れる (densha ga okureru) means 'The train is delayed' or 'The train is late'.
Word
Meaning
These are common phrases used when discussing lateness.
The correct sentence is '遅れてすみません。道が混んでいました。' (Okurete sumimasen. Michi ga konde imashita.) - Sorry I'm late. The road was crowded.
彼はいつもライバルに ______。
The phrase 遅れをとる (okure o toru) means 'to fall behind'.
Which phrase means 'belatedly'?
遅れ馳せながら (okurebasenagara) is used for belated greetings or apologies.
The verb 遅れる (okureru) can only be used for people being late.
遅れる (okureru) can also be used for events, transportation, or projects being delayed.
技術革新のスピードに ______、多くの企業が苦戦している。
The phrase 遅れをとって (okure o totte) fits the context of 'falling behind' the speed of innovation.
This sentence correctly uses 遅れる to describe arriving later than planned due to a train delay.
Score: /10
Summary
Mastering 遅れる (okureru) is essential for navigating schedules and communicating punctuality in Japanese.
- 遅れる (okureru) means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed'.
- Used for people, transportation, events, and projects.
- Often requires the particle に (ni) when indicating what you are late for.
- Commonly used in apologies like 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen).
The 'Ogre' Trick
Remember 'Ogre-reru' sounds like 'okureru'. Imagine a clumsy ogre who is always late for his ogre duties!
Always Add Context
Don't just say you're late. Specify *what* you're late for using the particle に (ni), like 学校に遅れる (gakkou ni okureru) or 会議に遅れる (kaigi ni okureru).
The Art of Apology
In Japan, apologizing for lateness is crucial. Master 遅れてすみません (okurete sumimasen) – it goes a long way!
Verb Group 2!
遅れる is a Group 2 (ichidan) verb. This means its '-masu' form is 遅れます (okuremasu), past is 遅れた (okureta), and negative is 遅れない (okurenai). Easy conjugation!
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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じゅうしょ
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住所
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目覚まし
B1Alarm clock. A clock that makes a noise to wake someone up.
目覚まし時計
B1An alarm clock.
もう少し
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ひとりで
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~のに
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ごぜん
A2Morning (a.m.).
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B1Noisy; annoying.
