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JapanLingo

late / slow

N3
Onyomi
Kunyomi
Stroke count
12
JLPT
N3

Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.

Memory tip

A flat illustration of a road arching over a bridge across water, with the kanji 遅 ("late") drawn into the picture.

Break 遅 down and you get ⻌ (road / movement) — a road running along the bottom of the character. Picture a road arching over a bridge across water, put 遅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "late" — late / slow. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

Stroke Order

Stroke count: 12

General writing tips

These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.

  • •Write from top to bottom.
  • •Write from left to right.
  • •Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
  • •Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
  • •In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
  • •This kanji has 12 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.

Step by step

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Practice Writing

Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.

Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.

Writing Tips

  • Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
  • Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
  • Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
  • Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.

Example words

osoi

late

chien

delay

okureru

to be late

okurete

be late — te-form

osoi desu

polite: is late

okuremasu

be late — polite present

Example sentences (5)

densha ga jiko de okureteimasu.

The train is delayed because of an accident.

juppun gurai okure sou na node, saki ni hajimete kudasai.

It looks like I will be about ten minutes late, so please start without me.

kyou wa kaeri ga osoi desu.

I am coming home late today.

basu ga osoi node, arukimasu.

The bus is slow, so I will walk.

kyou wa densha ga okurete, shukkin ga sanjuppun osoku narimashita.

The train was delayed today, so I got to work thirty minutes late.