Translation guide
The English verb "entangle" covers physical tangling, figurative involvement in difficult situations, and romantic entanglement. Japanese uses different verbs and expressions for each nuance.
To twist or interweave things so they become caught or difficult to separate
Transitive verb meaning to entwine or entangle something with something else. Often used for threads, ropes, or abstract things.
He entangled the thread around his finger.
Intransitive verb meaning to become entangled or tangled. Used when something gets caught or twisted on its own.
The fishing line got entangled around my leg.
Transitive causative form of もつれる (to get tangled), meaning to cause something to become tangled. Often used for hair, threads, or complex situations.
The wind entangled my hair.
Intransitive verb meaning to get tangled or snarled. Commonly used for hair, strings, or complicated matters.
My hair is entangled and the brush won't go through.
To become involved in a complicated or problematic situation, often against one's will
Passive form of 巻き込む (to involve). Means to get caught up or entangled in a situation, often with a negative nuance.
He got entangled in trouble.
Transitive verb meaning to involve or entangle someone in something. Often used when someone drags another into a situation.
Literally 'to have one's feet taken', meaning to be entangled or hindered by something, often used for physical obstacles or metaphorical entanglements.
Formal/literary verb meaning to be entangled or obsessed with something, often used for abstract concepts like rules or details.
To be involved in a complicated romantic or emotional relationship
Euphemistic phrase meaning to become intimately involved or entangled with someone romantically.
He became romantically entangled with a coworker.
Literally 'to have a relationship', often implying a romantic or sexual entanglement, especially when used in certain contexts.
Can also be used figuratively for relationships that become complicated or entangled.
絡める (transitive) is used when someone actively entangles something, while 絡まる (intransitive) describes the state of being entangled. Use 絡める when you have an agent doing the tangling, and 絡まる when something becomes tangled by itself or the agent is not emphasized.
The cat entangled the yarn.
The yarn got entangled.
Directly translating 'entangle' into 絡める for abstract situations like 'entangled in a scandal' can sound unnatural. Use 巻き込まれる or other context-appropriate expressions instead.
He entangled me in a troublesome matter.
I got entangled in the weeds and fell.
He is entangled in petty rules.
He was entangled with a married person.
二人の関係はもつれてしまった。
Their relationship became entangled.