Esta página no seu idioma

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

中文

हिन्दी

B1 adverb 8 min de leitura

遅れて

okurete

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas 遅れて em 30 segundos

Explicação 遅れて in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn 'okurete' primarily in the context of simple apologies. You might use it to say 'Okurete sumimasen' (Sorry I'm late) when arriving at a class or meeting a friend. At this stage, you don't need to worry about the complex grammar of the te-form; just think of it as a fixed phrase for 'being late.' You will also see it in very simple sentences about trains, which is a common topic in beginner textbooks. The focus is on recognizing that it means 'late' and that it is different from 'osoi' (slow). You should practice saying the time plus 'okurete,' like '5-pun okurete' (5 minutes late), which is a very useful survival phrase in Japan. By the end of A1, you should be able to apologize for a delay and understand when someone else says they are late.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the A2 level, you start to understand 'okurete' as the te-form of the verb 'okureru.' You learn how to use it to link ideas, such as 'Densha ga okurete, gakkou ni chikoku shimashita' (The train was late, so I was late for school). You also begin to distinguish between 'okurete' (the state of being late) and 'okureru' (the action of becoming late). You might use it in more varied contexts, like being late for a movie or a party. You will also learn the negative form 'okurezu ni' (without being late). At this level, you should be comfortable using 'okurete' with the continuous form 'imasu' to describe an ongoing delay, such as 'Shigoto ga okurete imasu' (My work is currently behind schedule).

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the B1 level, you use 'okurete' in more abstract and professional contexts. You move beyond just being late for a meeting to describing projects that are falling behind or trends that you are not keeping up with. You will encounter sentences like 'Jidai ni okurete iru' (Being behind the times). You also learn to use 'okurete' as a modifier for more complex verbs, such as 'okurete touchaku suru' (to arrive late) or 'okurete hajimaru' (to start late). This is the level where you must master the difference between 'okurete' and 'osoku.' You also start to see 'okurete' in news reports and formal announcements, where it might be paired with words like 'oohaba ni' (significantly) or 'wazuka ni' (slightly).

At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the nuance of 'okurete' in passive and causative structures. You might encounter it in discussions about societal issues, such as 'Nihon wa dijitaru-ka ga okurete iru' (Japan is lagging behind in digitalization). You understand that 'okurete' can imply a lack of progress or a systemic failure, not just a personal mistake. You can use it to describe complex temporal relationships, such as a secondary effect that happens 'okurete' (with a time lag) after an initial cause. Your vocabulary also expands to include formal synonyms like 'chien' and 'entai,' and you know exactly when to choose 'okurete' over these more specialized terms. You can also use it in hypothetical or conditional sentences smoothly.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C1 level, you use 'okurete' in nuanced literary or highly technical contexts. You might use it to describe the 'okure' (lag) in a psychological response or the 'okurete kita ryuukou' (a trend that arrived late) in a historical analysis. You are comfortable with the word in all its grammatical forms and can use it to add precise detail to your descriptions. For example, you might discuss how certain regions 'hatten ga okurete iru' (are underdeveloped/lagging in development) using sophisticated supporting evidence. You also recognize the word in idiomatic expressions and can appreciate its use in literature to convey a sense of regret or being out of sync with the world around oneself.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'okurete.' You can use it in philosophical discussions about the nature of time and synchronization. You understand the subtle differences in tone when 'okurete' is used in classical-style Japanese or highly specialized academic papers. You can debate the social implications of 'okurete' in a culture that values punctuality as much as Japan does. You are also able to use the word with perfect prosody and register, switching between casual, polite, and honorific forms of the surrounding sentence without hesitation. For a C2 learner, 'okurete' is not just a word for being late; it is a tool for describing the complex interplay of timing in every aspect of life, from physics to sociology.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

遅れて em 30 segundos

Okurete is the te-form of 'okureru' (to be late) and acts as an adverb meaning 'late' or 'behind schedule.'
It is primarily used for delays relative to a clock or plan, such as trains, meetings, or project milestones.
Cultural significance is high; it is the standard word used in apologies for lateness in Japan's punctual society.
It differs from 'osoku' (late in the day/slow) by focusing on being 'behind' rather than the time being advanced.

The Japanese word 遅れて (okurete) is a highly versatile and essential adverbial form derived from the verb okureru (遅れる), which means 'to be late' or 'to be delayed.' In Japanese society, where punctuality is not just a virtue but a fundamental social expectation, understanding how to use 遅れて correctly is crucial for maintaining professional and personal relationships. It is most commonly used to describe a situation where someone or something arrives or occurs after the scheduled or expected time. Whether it is a train delay, a late arrival to a meeting, or a development project falling behind schedule, 遅れて provides the grammatical bridge to explain the state of being behind.

Core Concept: The state of being behind a specific temporal reference point, whether that is a clock time, a schedule, or a pace of progress.
Grammatical Role: As the te-form of a verb acting adverbially, it connects the delay to a resulting action or state, such as 'arriving late' or 'starting late.'

電車が遅れています。 (Densha ga okurete imasu.)

Translation: The train is running late.

In a cultural context, using 遅れて often precedes an apology. In Japan, if you are even one minute late, it is standard to acknowledge the delay. The word carries a sense of deviation from the norm. Unlike the English word 'late,' which can sometimes be an adjective ('I am late'), 遅れて emphasizes the process or the state of having fallen behind. It is used for physical movement (transportation), social commitments (meetings), and even abstract concepts like 'falling behind the times' (jidai ni okurete).

会議に遅れてすみません。 (Kaigi ni okurete sumimasen.)

Translation: I am sorry for being late to the meeting.

Furthermore, 遅れて is used in technical and biological contexts. For instance, if a child's development is behind, or if a computer system is lagging, this word is the appropriate choice. It signifies a gap between the 'target' and the 'actual.' This nuance is important because Japanese distinguishes between 'late' as in 'late at night' (osoku) and 'late' as in 'behind schedule' (okurete).

Temporal vs. Sequential: 'Okurete' is sequential—it means you are behind a mark. 'Osoku' is temporal—it means the time itself is advanced (like 11 PM).

Using 遅れて (okurete) correctly requires an understanding of Japanese sentence structure, particularly the use of the particles ni (に) and ga (が). Most commonly, the target you are late for is marked by ni, while the subject that is late is marked by ga. For example, 'Gakkou ni okurete' (Late for school). Because it is the te-form, it often functions to link the 'being late' to a following verb or to describe a continuous state when followed by imasu.

彼は予定より30分遅れて到着した。 (Kare wa yotei yori sanjuppun okurete touchaku shita.)

Translation: He arrived 30 minutes behind schedule.

In this example, 遅れて acts as an adverb modifying the verb touchaku shita (arrived). You can specify the duration of the delay by placing the time period (e.g., 5 minutes, 1 hour) immediately before 遅れて. This is a very common pattern in business reporting. If you need to say 'I will be late,' you would use the future/dictionary form okuremasu, but if you are currently in the state of being late, 遅れて is the key.

Pattern 1: [Target] ni okurete [Action]: Example: 'Jugyou ni okurete hairu' (To enter late for class).
Pattern 2: [Subject] ga okurete iru: Example: 'Shigoto ga okurete iru' (The work is falling behind).

Another sophisticated use of 遅れて is in the context of 'lag' or 'delay' in technology or signals. If a video stream is out of sync with the audio, you might say the sound is 遅れて (delayed). This highlights the relative nature of the word; it isn't just about human punctuality, but about synchronization in general.

流行に遅れている。 (Ryuukou ni okurete iru.)

Translation: Being behind the current trends.

When writing, ensure you use the kanji 遅. While the word can be written in hiragana (おくれて), the kanji is standard for all levels above N5. The kanji radical for 'road' or 'movement' (⻌) suggests the physical act of moving slowly or being held back on a path, which helps in visualizing the meaning of the word.

Social Nuance: Using 'okurete' implies an objective fact. To add a subjective feeling of regret, the te-form is often followed by 'shimau' (okurete shimau), indicating that the lateness was accidental or regrettable.

In Japan, you will encounter 遅れて (okurete) in a variety of daily environments, ranging from the highly structured world of public transport to casual social gatherings. Perhaps the most iconic place to hear this word is at a train station. Japanese trains are famous for their precision, so any delay, even one of just two or three minutes, will be announced over the PA system using formal language involving 遅れて.

信号トラブルのため、電車が大幅に遅れております。 (Shingou toraburu no tame, densha ga oohaba ni okurete orimasu.)

Translation: Due to a signal issue, the train is significantly delayed.

In a corporate setting, 遅れて is a staple of business communication. If a project is not meeting its milestones, a manager might say, 'Keikaku ga okurete iru' (The plan is falling behind). If a colleague arrives late to a Zoom call, they will almost certainly start with 'Okurete sumimasen.' It is the standard way to acknowledge a lapse in punctuality without being overly dramatic. It identifies the problem (the delay) clearly.

News Media: Reports on economic growth often use 'okurete' to describe sectors that are lagging behind others in recovery.
Sports Commentary: If a runner is behind the lead pack, the announcer will say they are 'okurete' relative to the top group.

In casual conversation among friends, the word is used slightly more loosely but remains common. If you are meeting a friend at a cafe and you are stuck in traffic, you might send a LINE message saying, 'Gomen! 10-pun kurai okurete tsuku' (Sorry! I'll arrive about 10 minutes late). Here, 遅れて acts as an adverb for the verb tsuku (arrive).

You will also hear this in school settings. Teachers might tell students who are late for class to 'Okurete kuru toki wa, shizuka ni haitte kudasai' (When coming in late, please enter quietly). It is also used in the context of 'late-blooming' (okurete saita hana), showing its poetic potential beyond just schedules and clocks.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning Japanese is confusing 遅れて (okurete) with the word osoku (遅く). While both are translated as 'late' in English, their usage in Japanese is strictly separated by context. 遅れて refers to being behind a specific schedule or expected time, whereas osoku refers to something happening at a late point in time (like late at night) or something moving slowly.

❌ 夜遅れて帰った。
✅ 夜遅く帰った。

Correction: 'I returned home late at night.' Use 'osoku' for time of day.

Another common error is using 遅れて when the noun chikoku (遅刻) is more appropriate. Chikoku specifically means 'being late for an appointment/school/work' and is used as a noun or with suru. While you can say 'kaigi ni okurete sumimasen,' it is often more natural in a professional context to say 'chikoku shite sumimasen' if you are referring to the act of being late itself. 遅れて is broader and can apply to inanimate objects like trains, whereas chikoku is almost always about people.

Mistake: Confusing with 'Slow': Don't use 'okurete' to mean 'slow speed.' For a slow car, use 'osoi.' Use 'okurete' if the car is behind its expected arrival time.
Mistake: Particle Misuse: Using 'wo' instead of 'ni' for the target. It's 'gakkou NI okureru,' not 'gakkou WO okureru.'

Finally, learners sometimes forget that 遅れて is the te-form. If you want to say 'I am always late,' you shouldn't use the te-form alone; you need the habitual form 'itsumo okuremasu.' The te-form 遅れて is specifically for connecting to another verb or describing a specific instance or ongoing state (with imasu).

While 遅れて (okurete) is the most common way to express being late, several other words offer more specific nuances depending on the situation. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to navigate different social registers with ease.

遅刻 (Chikoku): Specifically used for people being late to school, work, or an appointment. It sounds more formal and 'official' than okurete. Example: 'Chikoku wa gensemi desu' (Tardiness is strictly prohibited).
延滞 (Entai): Used for delays in payment or returning borrowed items (like library books). You wouldn't use okurete for a credit card bill; you'd use entai. Example: 'Entai ryou' (Late fee).
遅延 (Chien): A formal term used in public announcements, especially for transportation or data transmission. Trains have 'chien shoumeisho' (delay certificates) rather than 'okurete shoumeisho.'

バスが遅れている vs バスが遅延している

Comparison: The first is natural spoken Japanese; the second is formal announcement style.

In casual settings, you might hear osoku naru (to become late). While 遅れて implies you are behind a schedule, osoku naru simply means you will be late getting home or finishing something. For example, 'Kaeri ga osoku naru' (I'll be late coming home) is more common than using 遅れて in that context.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The kanji for 'okurete' (遅) actually contains a radical that looks like a sheep (羊) in its ancient form, combined with the movement radical, though the modern interpretation focuses on the slow movement along a path.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ɒ.kʊ.re.te/

US /oʊ.ku.reɪ.teɪ/

Japanese has pitch accent rather than stress. In 'okurete', the pitch usually starts low on 'o' and rises on 'ku', staying high through 're' and 'te' (L-H-H-H).

Rima com

Wasurete (Forget) Tasukete (Help) Misete (Show) Tomete (Stop) Akete (Open) Kikete (Can hear) Nigete (Run away) Sutete (Throw away)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing 're' like the English 'r' (with the tongue curled back). It should be a single tap.
Elongating the 'e' sounds into 'ay' (okureitay). They should be short and crisp.
Putting heavy stress on one syllable. Japanese syllables have roughly equal length.
Confusing the pitch accent with 'okureru' which might have a different drop.
Mumbling the 'u' in 'ku'; it should be whispered or short, but not entirely gone.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

The kanji is N3 level, but the word is introduced early. The te-form grammar is essential.

Escrita 3/5

Writing the kanji '遅' requires attention to the radical order.

Expressão oral 2/5

Very common in daily apologies; easy to practice.

Audição 2/5

Frequently heard in train stations and offices.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

遅い (Osoi) 時間 (Jikan) 電車 (Densha) すみません (Sumimasen) 来る (Kuru)

Aprenda a seguir

遅刻 (Chikoku) 遅延 (Chien) 予定 (Yotei) 締め切り (Shimekiri) 間に合う (Maniau)

Avançado

停滞 (Teitai) 猶予 (Yuuyo) 遅々として (Chichitoshite) 後手 (Gote) 先送り (Sakiokuri)

Gramática essencial

Te-form for Reason

電車が遅れて、遅刻しました。 (The train was late, [so] I was late.)

Te-form + imasu (State)

バスが遅れています。 (The bus is [currently] late.)

Te-form + shimau (Regret)

約束に遅れてしまった。 (I ended up being late for the appointment.)

Adverbial use of Te-form

彼は遅れて到着した。 (He arrived late.)

Te-form + mo (Even if)

遅れてもいいです。 (It's okay even if you're late.)

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Exemplos por nível

5分遅れてすみません。

I am sorry for being 5 minutes late.

Time + okurete is the standard way to state the duration of a delay.

バスが遅れています。

The bus is running late.

Okurete imasu indicates a current, ongoing state of delay.

遅れてもいいですか？

Is it okay if I'm late?

Te-form + mo ii desu ka is used to ask for permission.

電車が10分遅れた。

The train was 10 minutes late.

Past tense of okureru used here to report a completed event.

学校に遅れてはいけません。

You must not be late for school.

Te-form + wa ikemasen means 'must not.'

友達が遅れて来ました。

My friend came late.

Okurete modifies the verb kuru (to come).

少し遅れても大丈夫です。

It is okay even if you are a little late.

Sukoshi means 'a little' and modifies the delay.

会議に遅れてしまった。

I ended up being late for the meeting.

Te-form + shimau indicates regret or an accidental action.

雪で電車が遅れています。

The train is late because of snow.

De particle indicates the cause of the delay.

予定より大幅に遅れて到着した。

It arrived significantly later than scheduled.

Yori means 'than' and compares actual time to the schedule.

仕事が遅れて、残業しました。

My work was behind, so I worked overtime.

The te-form here connects the reason and the result.

彼はいつも遅れて来るので困ります。

It's a problem because he always comes late.

Okurete kuru is a compound verb phrase 'to come late.'

映画の開始時間に遅れてしまった。

I was late for the start time of the movie.

Ni particle marks the specific time/event one is late for.

荷物の配達が数日遅れている。

The delivery of the package is delayed by several days.

Suujitsu means 'several days' and quantifies the delay.

遅れてすみませんが、入ってもいいですか？

Sorry I'm late, but may I come in?

Combining an apology with a request for permission.

時計が3分遅れていることに気づいた。

I noticed that the clock was 3 minutes slow.

Koto ni kizuita means 'noticed that...'

開発プロジェクトが予定より遅れています。

The development project is falling behind schedule.

Professional context for progress delay.

彼は流行に遅れていないか心配している。

He is worried about whether he is behind the trends.

Jidai/Ryuukou ni okureru means to be behind the times/trends.

返信が遅れてしまい、申し訳ありません。

I am deeply sorry for the delay in my reply.

Henshin means 'reply.' A standard business email apology.

成長が少し遅れているが、健康に問題はない。

The growth is a bit slow, but there are no health issues.

Seichou means 'growth' (biological or developmental).

注文した料理がなかなか来なくて、遅れているようだ。

The food I ordered isn't coming, it seems to be delayed.

Youda means 'it seems' or 'it looks like.'

台風の影響で、多くの便が遅れている。

Due to the typhoon, many flights are delayed.

Eikyou means 'influence' or 'effect.'

1時間遅れて始まった会議は、2時間もかかった。

The meeting that started an hour late took as long as two hours.

Okurete hajimatta is a relative clause modifying 'kaigi'.

彼は集団から遅れて一人で歩いていた。

He was walking alone, having fallen behind the group.

Shuudan means 'group' or 'collective.'

景気の回復が他国に比べて遅れている。

The economic recovery is lagging compared to other countries.

Ni kurabete means 'compared to.'

通信の遅れにより、映像が途切れることがあります。

Due to communication delays, the video may cut out.

Okure is the noun form used here (delay).

締め切りに遅れて提出された書類は受理されません。

Documents submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Shimekiri means 'deadline.'

彼女は一歩遅れて部屋に入ってきた。

She entered the room one step behind (the others).

Ippo okurete is an idiomatic way to say 'slightly behind.'

時代に遅れないように、常に新しい情報を得ている。

To avoid falling behind the times, I am always getting new information.

Okurenai you ni means 'so as not to be late/behind.'

その技術はすでに世界水準から遅れている。

That technology is already behind the global standard.

Sekai suijun means 'world standard.'

地震の揺れは、数秒遅れて隣の市にも伝わった。

The earthquake's tremors reached the neighboring city a few seconds later.

Scientific context for temporal lag.

彼は精神的に少し遅れていると診断された。

He was diagnosed as being slightly behind mentally.

Seishinteki ni means 'mentally/spiritually.'

その政策の導入は、諸外国に比して著しく遅れている。

The introduction of that policy is significantly delayed compared to other countries.

Ni shite (formal) means 'compared to.' Ichijirushiku means 'significantly.'

文明の恩恵から遅れて取り残された地域も存在する。

There are regions that have been left behind from the benefits of civilization.

Torinokosareta means 'left behind.'

感覚が数ミリ秒遅れて脳に伝達される現象を研究する。

We study the phenomenon where sensations are transmitted to the brain with a few milliseconds of delay.

Scientific/academic register.

後発メーカーとして、市場への参入が大幅に遅れた。

As a late-comer manufacturer, their entry into the market was significantly delayed.

Kouhatsu means 'starting later' or 'late-developing.'

彼の理論は、当時の学界の常識から大きく遅れていた。

His theory was far behind the common sense of the academic world at that time.

Gakkai means 'academic society/world.'

遅れてやってきた反抗期に、両親は戸惑っている。

The parents are bewildered by the rebellious phase that came late.

Hankouki means 'rebellious period/puberty.'

デジタル化の波に遅れることは、経済的な衰退を意味する。

Falling behind the wave of digitalization means economic decline.

Abstract metaphorical use of okureru.

音速を超えると、音は遅れて聞こえてくる。

When you exceed the speed of sound, the sound is heard later.

Physical law context.

歴史の必然性から遅れて生じた事象として解釈されるべきだ。

It should be interpreted as an event that arose late due to historical necessity.

Highly academic and philosophical register.

法の整備が社会の実態に遅れているという批判は免れない。

The criticism that legal frameworks are lagging behind social realities is unavoidable.

Legal and sociopolitical context.

彼は時代精神から遅れて生まれた、最後のロマン主義者だった。

He was the last Romanticist, born late in relation to the zeitgeist.

Literary and metaphorical use.

意識が決定を下すのは、神経活動より遅れてであることが判明した。

It has been found that consciousness makes decisions later than neural activity.

Neuroscience context.

その作家の評価は、死後数十年遅れて確立された。

The writer's reputation was established several decades late, after his death.

Context of posthumous recognition.

構造改革の遅れは、国家の競争力を著しく削いでいる。

The delay in structural reform is significantly undermining national competitiveness.

Economic and political analysis.

銀河の光は、何億年も遅れて地球に届いているのだ。

The light from galaxies reaches Earth hundreds of millions of years late.

Cosmological context.

遅れて咲いた狂い咲きの花が、冬の訪れを拒んでいるようだ。

The out-of-season flowers that bloomed late seem to be rejecting the arrival of winter.

Poetic and evocative language.

Colocações comuns

大幅に遅れて

予定より遅れて

10分遅れて

時代に遅れて

流行に遅れて

一歩遅れて

数日遅れて

成長が遅れて

返信が遅れて

足並みが遅れて

Frases Comuns

遅れてすみません

— The standard apology for being late. Used in almost all social situations.

遅れてすみません、道に迷いました。

遅れて申し訳ありません

— The formal business version of 'Sorry I'm late.' Shows deep respect.

会議に遅れて申し訳ありません。

少し遅れます

— Used to inform someone that you are currently running a little late.

渋滞で少し遅れます。

予定が遅れている

— Used to say that a plan or schedule is behind.

プロジェクトの予定が遅れている。

周りより遅れている

— Used to compare one's progress to others.

勉強が周りより遅れている。

遅れてくる

— To arrive late or come after the expected time.

冬が遅れてやってきた。

遅れて気づく

— To notice something after the fact or with a delay.

ミスに遅れて気づいた。

遅れて届く

— To be delivered late.

手紙が遅れて届いた。

一歩も遅れず

— Without falling behind even a step. Often used for following instructions.

ガイドに一歩も遅れずについていく。

遅れて咲く

— To bloom later than usual or after other flowers.

桜が今年は遅れて咲いた。

Frequentemente confundido com

遅れて vs 遅く (Osoku)

Osoku means late in the day or moving slowly. Okurete means behind a schedule.

遅れて vs 送って (Okutte)

Okutte is the te-form of 'okuru' (to send). It sounds similar but has a double 't'.

遅れて vs 起きて (Okite)

Okite means waking up. Beginners sometimes confuse the vowel sounds.

Expressões idiomáticas

"時代に遅れる"

— To be behind the times or out of date with modern society.

この考え方は時代に遅れている。

Neutral

"遅れを取る"

— To fall behind others in a competition or a race for success.

新製品の開発で他社に遅れを取った。

Formal

"一歩遅れる"

— To be slightly too late to catch an opportunity.

決断が一歩遅れた。

Neutral

"遅まきながら"

— A formal way to say 'belatedly' when doing something after the ideal time.

遅まきながら、新年のご挨拶を申し上げます。

Formal

"遅れてきたルーキー"

— A 'late-blooming' rookie or someone who succeeds later than others.

彼は30歳でデビューした遅れてきたルーキーだ。

Informal

"流行に遅れる"

— To be out of fashion or unaware of current trends.

流行に遅れるのが怖い。

Neutral

"足並みが遅れる"

— To fail to keep pace with others in a group effort.

足並みが遅れると全体の計画に響く。

Formal

"遅れて咲く花"

— A metaphor for someone who finds success later in life.

彼女は遅れて咲く花のような女優だ。

Literary

"聞き遅れる"

— To miss hearing something or to hear it after everyone else.

大事なニュースを聞き遅れた。

Neutral

"乗り遅れる"

— To miss a train/bus, or metaphorically, to miss a 'wave' or trend.

投資のチャンスに乗り遅れた。

Neutral

Fácil de confundir

遅れて vs 遅刻 (Chikoku)

Both mean 'late.'

Chikoku is a noun/suru-verb for people being late for appointments. Okurete is an adverbial form of a verb for any delay.

学校に遅刻した vs 電車が遅れている。

遅れて vs 遅延 (Chien)

Both mean 'delay.'

Chien is a formal Sino-Japanese word used in announcements. Okurete is the native Japanese word used in conversation.

遅延証明書 vs 電車が遅れて困る。

遅れて vs 延滞 (Entai)

Both mean 'late.'

Entai is specifically for overdue payments or borrowed items. Okurete is for time/progress.

料金の延滞 vs 返信が遅れてすみません。

遅れて vs 遅い (Osoi)

Adjective form of the same root.

Osoi describes speed (slow) or time of day (late). Okurete describes the state of being behind a schedule.

足が遅い vs 10分遅れて到着。

遅れて vs 後れる (Okureru)

Same pronunciation, different kanji.

後れる is often used for falling behind in a race or competition. 遅れる is for time and schedules.

他社に後れを取る vs 予定が遅れる。

Padrões de frases

[Time] okurete sumimasen.

5分遅れてすみません。

[Noun] ga okurete imasu.

バスが遅れています。

[Noun] ni okurete [Verb].

授業に遅れて入る。

Yotei yori [Degree] okurete iru.

予定より大幅に遅れている。

[Noun] no okure ni yori...

通信の遅れにより映像が止まる。

Jidai ni okurete [Verb].

時代に遅れて生まれる。

[Abstract] ga okurete iru to iu hihan.

デジタル化が遅れているという批判。

Sekai suijun kara okurete iru.

その技術は世界水準から遅れている。

Família de palavras

Substantivos

遅れ (Okure - Delay/Lag)

遅刻 (Chikoku - Tardiness)

遅延 (Chien - Delay of transport/signal)

Verbos

遅れる (Okureru - To be late/behind)

遅らす (Okurasu - To delay something/put off)

遅らせる (Okuraseru - To cause a delay)

Adjetivos

遅い (Osoi - Slow/Late in time)

Relacionado

時差 (Jisa - Time difference)

延期 (Enki - Postponement)

猶予 (Yuuyo - Postponement/Grace period)

停滞 (Teitai - Stagnation)

遅報 (Chihou - Delayed report)

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos

Como usar

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and business.

Erros comuns

夜遅れて帰る (Yoru okurete kaeru) → 夜遅く帰る (Yoru osoku kaeru)
Use 'osoku' for time of day. 'Okurete' is for being behind a schedule.
学校を遅れて (Gakkou wo okurete) → 学校に遅れて (Gakkou ni okurete)
The target you are late for must be marked with the particle 'ni'.
車が遅れて走る (Kuruma ga okurete hashiru) → 車が遅く走る (Kuruma ga osoku hashiru)
If the car is moving slowly, use 'osoku'. Use 'okurete' only if it's behind its arrival time.
遅れての返信 (Okurete no henshin) → 遅れた返信 (Okureta henshin) or 返信の遅れ (Henshin no okure)
'Okurete' is an adverbial form and doesn't directly modify nouns with 'no' easily in this way.
10分に遅れて (Juppun ni okurete) → 10分遅れて (Juppun okurete)
Do not put a particle between the duration and 'okurete'.

Dicas

Use with 'Imasu'

To describe a current delay, always use 'okurete imasu'. This is the most common way to report train or work delays.

Always Apologize

In Japan, even if a delay is not your fault, starting with 'okurete sumimasen' is a social lubricant that shows you value the other person's time.

Okurete vs Osoku

Remember: 'Okurete' = Schedule delay. 'Osoku' = Time is late or speed is slow. Never swap them!

Kanji Recognition

Look for the 'road' radical (⻌). It tells you the word is about movement along a path, which helps you remember it's about timing on a journey.

Business Reporting

When reporting a project delay, use 'yotei yori okurete imasu' (behind schedule) to sound professional and objective.

Station Announcements

Listen for 'okurete orimasu' at train stations. This is the humble/formal version of 'okurete imasu'.

Quantifying Delay

Always put the amount of time directly before 'okurete'. Example: 'Juupun okurete' (10 minutes late).

The 1-Minute Rule

In Japan, even 1 minute is 'okurete'. Don't wait until you are 15 minutes late to apologize!

Left Behind

The root means 'to be left behind.' Think of yourself being left behind by the 'time' that keeps moving forward.

OK-Late-Ray

Imagine a ray of light that is 'OK' but 'Late'. OK-Late-Ray-Te. It's a silly way to remember the syllables.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Imagine an 'O' (the shape of a clock) and a 'K' (a person kicking it). They are kicking the clock because they are 'OKURETE' (OK-Late-E) and frustrated!

Associação visual

Visualize a runner in a race who is far behind the group, with a giant letter 'O' on their back for 'Okurete'.

Word Web

Time Train Meeting Apology Behind Schedule Lag Slow

Desafio

Try to use 'okurete' in three different contexts today: once for a physical arrival, once for a task, and once for a news item you hear.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Old Japanese verb 'okuru' (後る), which meant to be left behind or to remain. The kanji '遅' (chi/osoi) consists of the 'road' radical (⻌) and a phonetic component suggesting 'slow' or 'relaxed.'

Significado original: To be left behind while others move forward.

Japonic

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'okurete' regarding a person's mental development; use more clinical or sensitive terms in professional medical settings.

In many English-speaking cultures, being 5-10 minutes late is often socially acceptable ('fashionably late'), but in Japan, this would require a formal apology.

The 'Chien Shoumeisho' (Delay Certificate) given by Japanese train companies. The movie 'Okuribito' (Departures) uses a similar root but different meaning. Japanese news headlines often use '大幅に遅れて' during typhoon seasons.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Public Transportation

電車が遅れています
10分の遅れ
運行が遅れる
遅延証明書

Business Meetings

遅れて申し訳ありません
会議に遅れる
進捗が遅れている
予定より遅れて到着する

Social Life

少し遅れるね
遅れても大丈夫？
友達が遅れてきた
待ち合わせに遅れる

Technology/Signals

音が遅れて聞こえる
映像が遅れている
通信が遅れる
レスポンスが遅い

Development/Biology

成長が遅れている
開発が遅れる
言葉が遅れている
開花が遅れる

Iniciadores de conversa

"電車が遅れて困ったことはありますか？ (Have you ever had trouble because a train was late?)"

"仕事の予定が遅れている時、どうしますか？ (What do you do when your work schedule is falling behind?)"

"友達がいつも遅れて来たら、どう思いますか？ (What do you think if a friend is always late?)"

"最近、何か流行に遅れていると感じることはありますか？ (Is there anything recently where you feel you are behind the trends?)"

"日本で遅れてはいけない一番大事なことは何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the most important thing not to be late for in Japan?)"

Temas para diário

今日、何かに遅れてしまいましたか？その時の理由と気持ちを書いてください。 (Were you late for anything today? Write about the reason and your feelings.)

日本の「遅れてはいけない」という文化について、自分の意見を書いてください。 (Write your opinion on the Japanese culture of 'not being late.')

もし1時間遅れて大切な会議に行ったら、どんな言い訳をしますか？ (If you were an hour late for an important meeting, what excuse would you make?)

過去に大幅に遅れて失敗した経験について詳しく書いてください。 (Write in detail about a time you failed because you were significantly late.)

「時代に遅れる」ことのメリットとデメリットについて考えて書いてください。 (Think and write about the pros and cons of 'being behind the times.')

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, for 'late at night,' you should use 'osoku.' For example, 'Yoru osoku kaeru' (I return home late at night). 'Okurete' is only for being behind a schedule.

It is polite, but 'okurete moushiwake arimasen' or 'chikoku shite shimai, moushiwake gozaimasen' is better for a very formal business situation.

'Okureru' is the dictionary form (verb). 'Okurete' is the te-form (adverbial/connective). You use 'okurete' to connect to other verbs like 'okurete kuru' (come late).

You say 'go-pun okurete' (5分遅れて).

Yes, if the computer's response is lagging behind your input, you can say 'okurete iru' or 'okure ga aru.'

Yes, 'seichou ga okurete iru' is the standard way to say growth is delayed.

Use 'ni' for the event you are late for (e.g., kaigi ni okurete) and 'ga' for the thing that is late (e.g., densha ga okurete).

Not necessarily. A train can be 'okurete' due to weather, which is not anyone's mistake. It just describes the objective fact of being behind schedule.

Yes, it is extremely common and taught at the B1 level, though its basic forms are used from A1/A2.

Yes, you can say 'shuudan kara okurete iru' (being behind the group).

Cadastre-se grátis para ver dicas e notas