1.
putting off; postponing; deferring
Deciding to deal with something later rather than now. Often implies deprioritizing something.
宿題を後回しにした。
I put off my homework.
嫌な仕事を後回しにしてしまう。
I tend to put off unpleasant work.
大事なことを後回しにしないでください。
Please don't put off important things.
自分のことは後回しにして、家族を優先した。
I put my own needs aside and prioritized my family.
面倒なことを後回しにしていたら、問題がもっと大きくなってしまった。
Because I kept putting off the troublesome things, the problems got even bigger.
WORD FORMATION:
後 (later) + 回し (turning/sending, from 回す)
Literally: "turning to later"
USAGE:
後回し is typically used with にする to form the expression "to put off" or "to postpone."
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 後回しにする - to put off, to postpone
- 後回しにされる - to be put on the back burner
- 〜を後回しにして - putting ~ aside
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 先延ばし - postponement, procrastination
- 延期 - postponement (more formal)
- 後にする - to do later
NOTE:
後回しにする often has a slight negative connotation, suggesting something is being avoided or deprioritized.
REGISTER:
Casual to neutral. Common in everyday conversation.