How to say "tame" in Japanese

• おとなしいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers the adjective sense: a tame, docile animal, or a quiet, meek person. It describes a gentle, unassertive disposition, not the act of taming, so it cannot render the verb 'to tame'.
  牛うしは大おおきくて、おとなしく見みえました。↗

  The cows looked big and docile.
• 慣らすならすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb 'to tame': to domesticate or train an animal, making it gentle and accustomed to human contact. Use this for the action of taming; the resulting docile state is おとなしい.
  彼かれはピューマを慣ならすのに大おおいに骨ほねを折おった。↗

  He took great pains in taming a puma.

Use 「おとなしい」 for the adjective 'tame' — a gentle, docile animal or a meek, quiet person — and 「慣らす」 for the verb 'to tame', the act of domesticating or training an animal.

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

• おとなしいgentle
• 唯々いいobedient
• 手なずけるてなずけるto tame
• 飼いならすかいならすto tame (an animal)
• 諾々だくだくobedient
• 温順おんじゅんdocile
• 唯々諾々いいだくだくobedient
• 馴れたなれたdomesticated
• 不甲斐ないふがいないgood-for-nothing
• 慣らすならすto tame