Translation and Meaning of: 滞る - todokooru

If you are studying Japanese, you may have come across the word 滞る (とどこおる, todokooru). It appears in various contexts, from everyday conversations to formal documents. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is used in the Japanese language. Additionally, we will look at tips for memorizing it and interesting facts that make your learning more engaging.

Meaning and usage of 滞る

滞る means "to delay," "to remain stagnant," or "to come to a standstill." It can be used for both concrete situations, like a payment that hasn't been made on time, and for abstract ideas, such as a project that isn't progressing. For example, if someone says "仕事が滞っている" (shigoto ga todokootte iru), it means that the work is accumulated or stuck.

The verb also appears in bureaucratic contexts, such as when we talk about processes that take longer than expected. In everyday life, it is common to hear it in complaints about late deliveries or pending tasks. Its flexibility of use makes it a useful word for those who want to express themselves with precision.

Origin and writing in kanji

The kanji 滞 is composed of the water radical (氵) and the component 帯, which refers to something that extends or persists. Together, they convey the idea of something that remains still, like stagnant water. This visual relationship helps to understand why the character is used to express delay or obstruction.

Although it is an intermediate-level kanji, its kun'yomi reading (とどこおる) is more common in daily life than the on'yomi (タイ). It is worth noting that it also appears in words like 停滞 (ていたい, teitai), which means "economic stagnation" or "congestion."

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to memorize 滞る is to associate it with real situations. If you have ever experienced a delay in a service or seen a bureaucratic process take time, try to describe that using the word. Repeating sentences like "手続きが滞る" (tedzuzuki ga todokooru, "the procedure is delayed") helps to internalize its usage.

Another tip is to pay attention to news or articles that mention logistics issues or delays. Often, 滞る appears in these contexts, reinforcing its meaning. If you like animes or dramas, notice if the word comes up in dialogues about deadlines or pending tasks – this can be a great way to learn contextually.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 滞る

• 滞る - Infinitive form
• 滞っている - Present form
• 滞った - past form
• 滞れば conditional form

Synonyms and similar words

• とどこおる (todokoru) - atrasar, ficar para trás
• とどまる (todomaru) - remain, stay
• とどめる (todomaru) - stop, deter, keep in one place
• とどまり (todomarai) - act of remaining, state of being in a place (usually used as an unconjugated form)

滞る

Romaji: todokooru
Kana: とどこおる
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: stagnate; be postponed

Meaning in English: to stagnate;to be delayed

Definition: Things stop moving forward. Stagnant.

Example Sentences - (滞る) todokooru

See below some example sentences:

仕事が滞るとストレスが溜まる。

Shigoto ga todokoru to sutoresu ga tamaru

When the work gets still

When work is postponed, stress accumulates.

• 仕事 - work
• が - subject particle
• 滞る - to stand still, to stagnate
• と - Conjunction particle
• ストレス - stress
• が - subject particle
• 溜まる - accumulate, to accumulate