Meaning and Usage
The verb 遅らす (おくらす) means "to delay" or "to retard" something. It is a transitive verb, so it requires a direct object — something that is being delayed. This word is often used in formal or written contexts, such as business or official announcements.
Common Collocations
- 遅らせる (おくらせる): the causative form, meaning "to cause to be delayed" or simply "to delay".
- 予定を遅らせる: to delay a schedule or plan.
- 開始時間を遅らせる: to delay the start time.
Usage Notes
When using 遅らす, the speaker implies an intentional or external cause for the delay, often involving a decision or circumstance that pushes back a time or event. It is different from 遅れる (おくれる), which is intransitive and means "to be late" or "to be delayed" without specifying who or what causes the delay.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 遅らす (transitive) with 遅れる (intransitive). Remember that 遅らす requires a direct object and often implies an active cause, while 遅れる simply describes something being late or delayed on its own.
Register
遅らす is more formal and less common in casual conversation. In everyday speech, people often use 遅れる or phrases like 遅くする to express delay.