How to say "relieve" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 和らげるやわらげるichidan verb, transitive verbUsed when 'relieve' means softening or moderating something harsh or painful, such as easing discomfort or making a blow less severe. The image is of something becoming gentler, not of removing it entirely.
- 紛らすまぎらすgodan verb, transitive verbCovers relieving boredom, sorrow, or similar feelings by diverting the mind from them, as in distraction or drowning one's sorrows. The unpleasant feeling is not removed but temporarily taken off one's mind.
- 替わるかわるgodan verb, intransitive verbRelates only to the military or duty sense of 'relieve', where a person takes over another's post or position. Note that it is intransitive, describing someone being succeeded or replaced rather than relieving someone else.
- 救うすくうgodan verb, transitive verbFits the sense of relieving someone from hardship or distress, essentially rescuing or saving them. For most other uses of 'relieve' it is stronger than needed; it implies genuine deliverance from difficulty.
- 緩めるゆるめるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers relieving tension, or relaxing attention, effort, or one's guard. Use it when something taut or strained is deliberately loosened, as in easing pressure or letting down one's guard.
Choose the word by what is being relieved: pain or severity is softened, boredom or sorrow is diverted, a person on duty is replaced, someone is rescued from hardship, and tension is loosened.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 和らげるやわらげるto soften
- 紛らすまぎらすto divert (e.g. one's mind)
- 替わるかわるto succeed
- 救うすくうto rescue (someone)
- 紛らわすまぎらわすto divert (e.g. one's mind)
- 紛らせるまぎらせるto divert (e.g. one's mind)
- 入り替わるいりかわるto change places
- ほぐすto relieve
- 緩めるゆるめるto relax (attention, efforts, etc.)
- 散らすちらすto resolve (a symptom, condition, etc.)
- 止めるとめるto prevent
- 解きほぐすときほぐすto relax
- とくto release (from duty)
- 静めるしずめるto relieve (a cough, pain, etc.)
- 消すけすto remove (a smell, pain, etc.)
See also
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