Meaning and Usage
"遅い" (おそい) primarily means "slow" or "late." It can describe the speed of movement or action, or refer to someone or something being late in time.
Common Contexts
- Describing slow speed: "動きが遅い" (slow movement)
- Talking about lateness: "遅刻する" (to be late)
- Expressing delay in arrival or response
Collocations and Patterns
- 遅い時間 (late hour): used to talk about late times of day
- 遅い電車 (slow train): describing slow transportation
- 遅くなる (to become late): common verb phrase
Register and Nuance
"遅い" is a common, neutral word used in everyday conversation. It can be used politely or casually depending on the sentence structure.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "遅い" with "遅れる" (to be late). Remember, "遅い" is an adjective describing speed or lateness, while "遅れる" is a verb meaning to be late or delayed.