(あとまわ)

あとまわし
noun
putting off; postponing; deferring
1. putting off; postponing; deferring
Deciding to deal with something later rather than now. Often implies deprioritizing something.
(いや)仕事(しごと)後回(あとまわ)しにしてしまう。
I tend to put off unpleasant work.
健康診断(けんこうしんだん)後回(あとまわ)しにしないでください。
Please don't put off your health checkup.
自分(じぶん)のことは後回(あとまわ)しにして、家族(かぞく)優先(ゆうせん)した。
I put my own needs aside and prioritized my family.

WORD FORMATION:
(あと) (later) + (まわ)し (turning/sending, from (まわ)す)
Literally: "turning to later"

USAGE:
後回(あとまわ)し is typically used with にする to form the expression "to put off" or "to postpone."

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 後回(あとまわ)しにする - to put off, to postpone
  • 後回(あとまわ)しにされる - to be put on the back burner
  • 〜を後回(あとまわ)しにして - putting ~ aside

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 先延(さきの)ばし - postponement, procrastination
  • 延期(えんき) - postponement (more formal)
  • (のち)にする - to do later

NOTE:
後回(あとまわ)しにする often has a slight negative connotation, suggesting something is being avoided or deprioritized.

REGISTER:
Casual to neutral. Common in everyday conversation.