Translation guide
The quality of being loose, not tight, or not firmly fixed. This guide covers physical looseness (clothing, screws, knots), abstract looseness (rules, discipline), and bodily looseness. It helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on what is loose and in what way.
Describing something that is not tight, such as clothing, a screw, a knot, or a grip.
The most common adjective for 'loose' in a physical sense. Used for things that are not tight, such as clothes, screws, ropes, or rules.
このネジは緩い。
This screw is loose.
このズボンはウエストが緩い。
These pants are loose around the waist.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become loose' or 'to loosen'. Used when something loosens by itself over time.
ネジが緩んだ。
The screw came loose.
Transitive verb meaning 'to loosen' something intentionally.
ネクタイを緩めた。
I loosened my tie.
Onomatopoeic word describing clothes that are baggy or too loose, often in an unflattering way.
このシャツはだぶだぶだ。
This shirt is too baggy.
Describing rules, discipline, or management that is not strict or tight.
Also used for abstract looseness, such as lax rules or lenient discipline.
この学校は校則が緩い。
This school has lax rules.
Literally 'sweet', but used to mean 'lenient' or 'soft' in discipline or judgment.
Loanword from English 'loose', often used for a person's attitude or time management being lax.
Referring to looseness of the bowels or bodily functions.
緩い (yurui) is neutral and can describe rules, screws, or bowels. 甘い (amai) implies a lack of strictness due to being too kind or soft, often used for people's judgments or discipline.
採点が甘い。
The grading is lenient.
Do not use 緩い to describe a person as 'loose' in a moral sense (e.g., promiscuous). That would be a different word like だらしない (slovenly) or ふしだら (immoral).
His supervision is lax.
He is loose with time (unpunctual).