出遅(でおく)れ

Forms

出(で)る (to leave/start) + 遅(おく)れる (to be late) → late start

• 出遅(でおく)れる (to get a late start, to fall behind)

Usage

• Races and sports (slow start from the gate)
• Business (late entry into a market)
• Technology adoption (falling behind competitors)
• Job hunting (starting later than peers)
• Trends (being slow to catch on)

Common expressions

• 出遅(でおく)れを取(と)り戻(もど)す (to make up for a late start)
• 出遅(でおく)れ感(かん) (sense of being behind)
• 出遅(でおく)れ気味(ぎみ) (somewhat behind)

Similar words

• 後(おく)れを取(と)る (to fall behind): losing ground to rivals at any stage. 出遅(でおく)れ is specifically about starting late.

Related words

• 遅(おく)れ (delay)
• 先行(せんこう) (being ahead; the opposite)
• スタートダッシュ (quick start; the opposite)