遅い vs 鈍い
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 遅い
Listen to 鈍い
| 遅い | 鈍い |
|---|---|
O-soi adjective | ni-bu-i adjective |
| slow; late | slow; dull; sluggish |
How they differ
鈍い can mean slow in reacting, understanding, or processing, and it can also mean dull or not sharp. Compared with 遅い, it is less about timing or lateness and more about lack of quickness in response, senses, or mental work.
When to use each
When to use 遅い: Use 遅い for general slowness or lateness in time, movement, or progress.
When to use 鈍い: Use 鈍い when you mean a person, sense, or reaction is slow to respond or not sharp.
Side-by-side examples
- 渋滞で到着が遅い。
(Arrival is late because of traffic.) - 今日は頭が鈍い気がする。
(I feel mentally sluggish today.)
Register & nuance: 鈍い is common in everyday Japanese, but it often carries a sharper negative nuance than 遅い.