後回(あとまわ)し

あとまわし
noun
putting off; postponing; deferring
actiontime-general
1. putting off; postponing; deferring
Deciding to deal with something later rather than now. Often implies deprioritizing something.
宿題(しゅくだい)を後回(あとまわ)しにした。
I put off my homework.
嫌(いや)な仕事(しごと)を後回(あとまわ)しにしてしまう。
I tend to put off unpleasant work.
大事(だいじ)なことを後回(あとまわ)しにしないでください。
Please don't put off important things.
自分(じぶん)のことは後回(あとまわ)しにして、家族(かぞく)を優先(ゆうせん)した。
I put my own needs aside and prioritized my family.
面倒(めんどう)なことを後回(あとまわ)しにしていたら、問題(もんだい)がもっと大(おお)きくなってしまった。
Because I kept putting off the troublesome things, the problems got even bigger.

Forms

後(あと) (later) + 回(まわ)し (turning/sending, from 回(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."
後回(あとまわ)しにする often has a slight negative connotation, suggesting something is being avoided or deprioritized.

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

Register

Casual to neutral. Common in everyday conversation.

Related Words

Compare: 先延(さきの)ばし (postponement, procrastination)
Compare: 延期(えんき) (postponement)
Compare: 引(ひ)き延(の)ばし (prolonging)
core
Added 2026.1.19 16:23 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
07000/07398_atomawashi