のろのろ

adverb

slowly; sluggishly

descriptive

1. slowly; sluggishly

Describes movement or action that is frustratingly slow or sluggish.

渋滞(じゅうたい)で車(くるま)がのろのろ進(すす)んでいる。

The cars are moving slowly due to traffic.

のろのろ歩(ある)いていたら遅刻(ちこく)するよ。

If you walk so slowly, you'll be late.

前(まえ)の車(くるま)がのろのろ走(はし)っていて、なかなか進(すす)めなかった。

The car in front was going so slowly that I couldn't make any progress.

のろのろ is a mimetic word (擬態語(ぎたいご)) expressing frustratingly slow movement. Unlike ゆっくり, it always carries a negative connotation — implying that the slowness is annoying or problematic.

Common patterns

のろのろ運転(うんてん): slow driving
のろのろ進(すす)む: to inch forward (e.g., in traffic)
のろのろ歩(ある)く: to walk sluggishly
のろのろする: to dawdle, be sluggish

Similar words

ゆっくり: slowly (neutral — can be positive: "take your time")
のろのろ: slowly (negative — frustratingly slow)
もたもた: slow and clumsy (implies fumbling or incompetence)
ぐずぐず: dawdling (implies indecision or procrastination)
とろとろ: sluggish (gentler; also means thick/gooey for food)

Related Words

Compare: ゆっくり (slowly (neutral/positive))

Synonym: もたもた (slow and fumbling)

Synonym: ぐずぐず (dawdling, indecisive)

Compare: すたすた (walking briskly)

Compare: てくてく (walking steadily)

Compare: とぼとぼ (trudging wearily)

Compare: とろとろ (sluggish (gentler)

Compare: きびきび (briskly, energetically, snappily)

Compare: ぼやぼや (absent-mindedly)

general

Added 2026.1.16 12:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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