ものぐさ

ものぐさ describes habitual laziness or an aversion to effort.

Etymology

From 物(もの) (things) + くさい (to smell of, to seem like), suggesting "having the nature of avoiding things."

Common patterns

• ものぐさな人(ひと) (a lazy person)
• ものぐさな性格(せいかく) (a lazy personality)
• ものぐさを決(き)め込(こ)む (to deliberately be lazy)

Usage

• More about habitual reluctance to do things than pure laziness
• Often describes someone who avoids effort or tasks out of convenience
• Can have a mildly self-deprecating or humorous tone when used about oneself

Related words

• 怠(なま)け者(もの) (lazy person - more negative)
• 面倒(めんどう)くさがり (someone who finds things troublesome)
• ぐうたら (slovenly, lazy - informal)
• 無精(ぶしょう) (lazy, indolent)

Kanji writing

Can be written as 物臭(ものぐさ), but hiragana is common.

Register: Casual to neutral. Common in everyday speech.