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N3

Kanji 遅: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 遅: slow, late, back, later

Key takeaways

Kanji 遅: slow, late, back, later. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N3

Meaning

slowlatebacklater

On reading

Kun reading

おく.れるおく.らすおそ.い

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 遅

slow, late, back, later

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

尸 + 羊 + ⻌

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Imagine a sheep (羊) on the road (⻌) moving as slowly as if it were a corpse (尸). Because it moves so sluggishly, it eventually ends up being late.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 遅刻ちこく

    being late / lateness

Kun reading

おく.れる
  • 遅らすおくらす

    to delay / to slow down

  • 遅れるおくれる

    to be late / delayed

  • 遅いおそい

    late / slow

Commonly used words

  • 遅刻
    ちこく

    being late / lateness

  • 遅らす
    おくらす

    to delay / to slow down

  • 遅れる
    おくれる

    to be late / delayed

  • 遅い
    おそい

    late / slow

Example sentences

Example 1

会議の開始をらす必要がある。

Translation

We need to delay the start of the meeting.

Example 2

雨で工事がらしてしまった。

Translation

The construction was delayed because of the rain.

Example 3

電車のれで会議に刻した。

Translation

I was late to the meeting because of a train delay.

Example 4

宿題のれを先生に伝えた。

Translation

I told the teacher about being late with my homework.

Kanji 遅: slow, late, back, later | Daily Nihongo