Translation guide
The English verb 'mend' covers repairing broken objects, healing injuries or relationships, and improving situations. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being mended.
To fix something that is physically broken, torn, or not working, such as clothes, machines, or furniture.
The most common and general verb for fixing or repairing something. Can be used for objects, machines, and even abstract things like mistakes.
壊れた椅子を直した。
I mended the broken chair.
時計を直してもらえますか。
Can you mend this watch?
A more formal term for repair, often used for mechanical or electronic items. Common in professional contexts.
車を修理に出した。
I sent the car to be mended.
Specifically means to mend clothing by darning or stitching. Used for repairing fabric items.
靴下の穴を繕った。
I mended the hole in my sock.
To recover from a physical injury, especially a broken bone.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to heal' or 'to get better'. Used when the injury itself is the subject.
骨折が治るまで時間がかかる。
It takes time for a broken bone to mend.
Transitive verb meaning 'to heal' or 'to cure'. Used when someone or something causes the healing.
To repair a damaged relationship or make a bad situation better.
Literally 'restore a relationship'. The standard phrase for mending a relationship.
二人は関係を修復しようと努力した。
They tried to mend their relationship.
To make up or reconcile after a quarrel. More casual and personal than 修復.
喧嘩したけど、仲直りした。
We had a fight, but we mended things.
To improve one's behavior or habits.
Literally 'reform one's conduct'. The closest equivalent to 'mend one's ways'.
彼は行いを改めると約束した。
He promised to mend his ways.
Literally 'change one's heart'. Implies a sincere change of attitude.
心を入れ替えて、真面目に働き始めた。
He mended his ways and started working seriously.
直す (naosu) is the everyday word for fixing things, from a torn shirt to a broken toy. 修理する (shuuri suru) is more formal and often implies professional repair, especially for machinery or electronics. Use 直す in casual conversation and 修理する when talking about sending something to a repair shop.
In English, 'mend' can sometimes mean 'correct' (e.g., 'mend a mistake'), but in Japanese, 直す (naosu) is used for both 'fix' and 'correct'. However, for correcting a mistake on paper, 訂正する (teisei suru) is more precise. For mending a mistake in a plan, 修正する (shuusei suru) is better.
The doctor mended the broken bone.
To patch up or gloss over a situation, often with a nuance of hiding the truth. Can be used for mending appearances or temporarily fixing a problem.
彼はその場を取り繕った。
He mended the situation for the moment.