How to say "mend" in Japanese

• 直すなおすJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe general-purpose choice: it covers repairing or fixing broken things and also correcting mistakes or bad habits, so it handles both the concrete and abstract senses of 'mend'.
  いまそれを直なおそうったって無駄むだだ。↗

  It's no use trying to fix it now.
• 繕うつくろうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbUse it for mending or patching up something worn or damaged, especially clothes, so that it can still be used.
  母ははにこのセーターをつくろってもらった。↗

  I had my mother mend this sweater.
• 改めるあらためるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbFor the figurative sense only: mending one's ways. It means reforming or correcting habits, attitudes or conduct, and is not used for physically repairing things.
• つぐJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe specific word for patching clothes, as when a patch is sewn over a worn or torn spot; a more narrowly focused choice than 繕う.

For fixing or correcting things in general use 「直す」, for mending or patching damaged items use 「繕う」, for patching clothes specifically use 「つぐ」, and for mending one's ways use 「改める」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 直すなおすto repair
• 繕うつくろうto mend
• かがるto stitch
• 改めるあらためるto reform
• つぐto patch (clothes)
• 取り繕うとりつくろうto mend