緩める・弛める|ゆるめるyurumeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
緩める緩める（ゆるめる） is the more common form and the one beginners should use for all the listed meanings. It appears in both kanji-and-kana writing and kana writing.
弛める弛める（ゆるめる） is rarely used. It has the same listed meanings as 緩める（ゆるめる）, so learners mainly need to recognize it when they encounter it.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto loosen; to slacken
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relieve (tension)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions); to loosen (control)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto reduce (speed); to slow down; to ease up
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto make more gradual (of a slope)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 緩める（ゆるめる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 緩めます（ゆるめます） |
| Negative (nai) | 緩めない（ゆるめない） |
| polite (masen) | 緩めません（ゆるめません） |
| classical zu / nu | 緩めず・緩めぬ（ゆるめず・ゆるめぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 緩めた（ゆるめた） |
| polite (mashita) | 緩めました（ゆるめました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 緩めなかった（ゆるめなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 緩めませんでした（ゆるめませんでした） |
| Te form | 緩めて（ゆるめて） |
| Potential | 緩められる（ゆるめられる） |
| Passive | 緩められる（ゆるめられる） |
| Causative | 緩めさせる（ゆるめさせる） |
| Causative passive | 緩めさせられる（ゆるめさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 緩めれば（ゆるめれば） |
| tara | 緩めたら（ゆるめたら） |
| Volitional | 緩めよう（ゆるめよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 緩めましょう（ゆるめましょう） |
| Imperative | 緩めろ（ゆるめろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
紐を緩める
緩む describes something becoming loose on its own or as a natural change, while 緩める indicates that someone deliberately loosens it.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym緩和かんわWrittenWritten/formal prose. Sino-Japanese noun, also 「緩和する」: eases a situation, pain or symptoms, or relaxes rules, as in 「規制緩和」; 「緩める」 is a concrete native verb.
- Synonym和らげるやわらげるNeutralSoftens or eases, as in 「痛みを和らげる」; about making things gentler, not for loosening a rope.
- Synonym弛めるたるめるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Makes something taut go slack, as with a rope; few examples in use, and 「緩める」 is the everyday word.
- Related軽減けいげんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Reduces a burden in quantity, as in 「税の軽減」; not used for loosening a knot.
- RelatedほぐすNeutralUntangles knotted things or breaks up clumps, and kneads away stiffness, as in 「肩をほぐす」「緊張をほぐす」; 「緩める」 is about easing tightness.
- Related弱めるよわめるNeutralWeakens strength or force, as in 「勢力を弱める」; about lowering intensity, not loosening something.
- Related鈍らすにぶらすWrittenWritten/formal prose. Dulls or blunts keenness, as in 「決心を鈍らす」; about sapping sharpness, not loosening.
- RelatedとくNeutralUnties knots or solves problems, as in 「紐を解く」; it undoes the fastening altogether, while 「緩める」 reduces tightness without undoing it.
- Antonym締めるしめるNeutralTies or tightens, the opposite of loosening 「緩める」, as in 「ネクタイを締める」.
- Antonym緊張させるNeutralMakes someone tense, the opposite of relaxing the mind with 「緩める」.
Use 「緩める」 to loosen screws or belts, relax attention or guard, or ease rules, as in 「ネクタイを緩める」「速度を緩める」. For easing a situation, symptoms or regulations, say 「緩和」; for kneading away stiffness or untangling, 「ほぐす」; the opposite of loosening is 「締める」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
