CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbSlangUncorrected

Chikokuma (遅刻魔 – Always Late)

  • Chikokuma

    遅刻魔


    Unfortunately, there are several people around me who are called chikokuma (遅刻魔).
    私の周りには遅刻魔が数名います。

    Chikoku (遅刻) means “late.”
    「遅刻」は “late” を意味します。

    In addition, ma (魔) usually means “devil” or “demon,” but it can also be used as a suffix that means “someone who is always do the same thing.”
    「魔」は “devil/demon” を意味する単語ですが、「~ばかりする人」を意味する接尾語として使われることがあります。

    That is to say, chikokuma literally means “someone who is always late.”
    すなわち「遅刻魔」は文字どおり「遅刻ばかりする人」という意味になります。

    However, note that most Japanese people arrive at their destinations at least 5 to 10 minutes before the scheduled time.
    ただし、日本人は集合時間の5分から10分前に集まる人が圧倒的に多いと思います。

    Therefore, people who are called chikokuma in Japan have lost their trust around them.
    したがって、日本で遅刻魔と呼ばれる人は、周囲の人々の信頼を失っているということです。

    Original sentence