マイペース

まいぺーす

na-adjective

at one's own pace; unhurried and unaffected by others

1. doing things at one's own pace and in one's own way, regardless of others

A Japanese coinage from 'my' and 'pace': going about things at one's own speed and manner without being swayed by the people around. Mildly admiring (steady, unflappable) or mildly critical (oblivious, slow), depending on tone. Used as a な-adjective (マイペースな人(ひと)) and with で (マイペースで進(すす)める).

彼(かれ)はマイペースな人(ひと)だ。

He does things at his own pace.

マイペースで勉強(べんきょう)を続(つづ)けている。

I keep studying at my own pace.

周(まわ)りがどんなに急(いそ)いでいても、妹(いもうと)はいつもマイペースだ。

No matter how much everyone around her hurries, my sister always goes at her own pace.

A 和製英語(わせいえいご) (Japanese-made English) word. 'My' here means anyone's own: 彼(かれ)はマイペースだ says he goes at his own pace, not mine.

Common collocations

マイペースな人(ひと): a person who goes at their own pace
マイペースで進(すす)める: to proceed at one's own pace
マイペースを崩(くず)さない: not to be knocked off one's own rhythm

Usage

As a description of character it is one of the standard Japanese personality labels, alongside 真面目(まじめ) and のんびり; whether it is praise or a complaint depends on the speaker.

Similar words

のんびり: relaxed, leisurely — slowness without the note of independence
自分(じぶん)勝手(かって): selfish, doing as one pleases — the clearly negative version
我(わ)が道(みち)を行(い)く: to go one's own way — the same idea as a set phrase

Related Words

Related: 和製英語(わせいえいご) (Japanese-coined English)

Compare: のんびり (relaxed, leisurely)

Compare: 自分勝手(じぶんかって) (selfish, doing as one pleases)

general

Added 2026.9.10 0:49 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54

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