1.
to be lazy, to slack off
To avoid work or effort.
仕事を怠ける。
To slack off at work.
怠けてばかりいる。
To be always lazing around.
怠けずに毎日練習した結果、試合に勝てた。
As a result of practicing every day without slacking off, I was able to win the match.
2.
to neglect, to be idle
To fail to do what one should.
勉強を怠ける。
To neglect one's studies.
掃除を怠けていたら部屋がひどいことになった。
I neglected cleaning and the room became a mess.
健康管理を怠けると、あとで大変なことになる。
If you neglect managing your health, it will cause serious problems later.
怠ける means to be lazy or slack off, with negative connotations.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Usually intransitive: 怠けている (being lazy)
- With object: 仕事を怠ける (to slack off from work)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 怠けてばかりいる: to always be slacking off
- 勉強を怠ける: to neglect one's studies
- 怠けずに働く: to work without slacking
RELATED:
- 怠け者: lazy person, slacker
- 怠惰: laziness, indolence (noun/na-adj)
- 怠る: to neglect (more formal)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- さぼる: to skip, play hooky (more colloquial, often for specific occasions)
- ぐうたらする: to loaf around (casual)