忙

busy, occupied; restless

Kanji 1806

Busyness is a key part of Japanese life. A wedding invitation may include an apology for having a ceremony at such a busy time. Learn to say that busyness is work-related. Find out how to read 忙しい with two yomi, each with different meanings. Discover terms for being busy versus simply looking busy. And enjoy sayings about finding odd moments of leisure when swamped. 

Revision history:

Feb. 9, 2024: p. 15: Changed part of the sentence vocab. to this: 若い頃ろ (わかいころ: one’s youth).

Jan. 12, 2024: p. 6: In the last sample sentence, I had defined 暇 as "spare time" when it means "free" in that context.

Apr. 28, 2023: p. 14: Introduced the term 繁忙期 and adjusted the photo caption accordingly.

Feb. 7, 2022: 

• p. 2, Etymology Box: Updated the Henshall etymology.
• p. 15: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

July 31, 2015: p. 9: I changed two things about the book title「忙中漢話 漢字で開く心の扉」:

• The subtitle translation had been The Gate Where Kanji Will Open Your Heart. I changed "Gate" to "Door."
• In the vocabulary list beneath, I changed the definition of 扉 from "opening" to "door."

Jan. 9, 2015: Originally published.