late

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is ち, and the kun readings are おそい, おくれる, おくらす. It has 12 strokes and relates to being late or slow, and falling behind a schedule.
• Basic usage: 遅い is read おそい, and 遅れる is read おくれる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 遅い / 遅れる
  • 遅い means late or slow and is read おそい. It describes a time as late or a machine as slow.
  • この古い機械は動きが少し遅い。 means “This old machine moves a little slowly.”
  • 遅れる means to be late or to be delayed and is read おくれる. It describes a person being late or an arrival being delayed.
  • 雨のため荷物の到着が遅れている。 means “The arrival of the shipment has been delayed by rain.”