Entry
ちんたら
chintara
ちんたら means doing something very slowly, dawdling, and wasting time.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes sluggish, lazy, or dawdling actions. It frequently carries a negative or frustrated tone because the person is taking their time when they should be hurrying.
- Working or performing a task sluggishly
- Moving or walking slowly without a sense of urgency
Sense Map
Lazy Action
Performing a task or working very slowly and without taking it seriously.
ちんたら仕事をする
Sluggish Movement
Walking or moving slowly without urgency, often getting in the way of others.
ちんたら歩く
Usage Note
How to Use
ちんたら + verb
Used as an adverb to describe performing an action slowly and lazily.
ちんたらと + verb
ちんたらする
Used as a verb (suru) meaning 'to dawdle' or 'to waste time'.
ちんたらしている
How to Use
Common Phrases
ちんたらする
to dawdle
ちんたら歩く
to walk sluggishly
ちんたら仕事する
to work lazily
ちんたら走る
to run sluggishly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Working or performing tasks | Negative | Shows frustration or anger toward someone who is being inefficient and wasting time. |
| Walking down a street | Negative | Describes annoyance towards people walking slowly and blocking the way. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
のんびり のんびり / opposite | Use it when relaxing in your free time with a calm, positive feeling. | ちんたら is always negative (wasting time), while のんびり is positive (enjoying one's time). | のんびり過ごす |
のろのろ のろのろ / similar | Use it to objectively describe slow speeds, like heavy traffic or a snail. | ちんたら implies a lazy attitude, whereas のろのろ is purely about the slow physical speed of a movement. | のろのろ走る車 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using this word to describe someone who is slow because of an injury or illness.
ちんたら implies a lazy attitude or lack of effort. Use common adjectives like 遅い (osoi) for physical slowness.
Using it to talk about a relaxing and enjoyable vacation.
This word is critical. For a relaxing vacation, use のんびり (nonbiri).
Examples
Examples
いつまでも、ちんたらしていないで早く仕事をしろ。
いつまでも、ちんたらしていないで はやく しごと を しろ。
Stop dawdling and hurry up with your work.
LiteralShows a boss's or coworker's anger because someone is wasting time.
男の子はちんたらと学校に向かって歩いていた。
おとこのこ は ちんたら と がっこう に むかって あるいていた。
The boy was walking sluggishly towards the school.
VisualDescribes a boy walking very slowly, perhaps because he is unenthusiastic.
ちんたら作業していると、日が暮れてしまうよ。
ちんたら さぎょう している と、ひ が くれ て しまう よ。
If we work sluggishly, the sun will set.
LiteralProvides a warning that a slow pace will take too much time.
彼はマラソン中、ちんたら走っていた。
かれ は マラソン ちゅう、ちんたら はしっていた。
He was running sluggishly during the marathon.
VisualIndicates that the person was not running seriously or looked lazy.
ちんたら準備しているとバスに乗り遅れるぞ。
ちんたら じゅんび している と バス に のりおくれる ぞ。
If you dawdle while getting ready, you'll miss the bus.
LiteralEmphasizes a scolding to move faster in an urgent situation.
Similar Words
のろのろ
noronoro
Moving or progressing at a very slow and inefficient pace. Both mean slow, but noronoro is objective (like vehicle speed), not about laziness.
のんびり
nonbiri
A relaxed and peaceful state of being free from rush or mental pressure. Refers to relaxing peacefully (positive), as opposed to chintara (negative).
だらだら
daradara
だらだら describes something continuing endlessly without tension, such as chilling lazily at home, a meeting dragging on, or sweat dripping continuously.
Questions
Can I use this word for traffic jams?
It is better not to. For vehicles or traffic, のろのろ is more appropriate. ちんたら refers mostly to human laziness.
Is it polite to use this word at the office?
No. It is a harsh, critical word. Never use it toward a boss or a stranger.
What is the difference between this and のんびり?
のんびり is positive, meaning healthy relaxation. ちんたら is negative, meaning sluggishness when one shouldn't be relaxing.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2069050
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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