Translation guide
The English word 'slackening' refers to a reduction in tightness, tension, speed, or intensity. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these different meanings.
To describe something becoming less tight, loose, or less tense, such as a rope, grip, or muscle.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become loose' or 'to slacken'. Used for ropes, screws, belts, tension, etc.
Transitive verb meaning 'to loosen' or 'to slacken' something. Used when someone intentionally reduces tightness.
彼はベルトを緩めた。
He slackened his belt.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to sag' or 'to become slack' due to lack of tension, often for ropes, skin, or fabric.
洗濯物を干すロープがたるんでいる。
The clothesline is slack.
Transitive verb meaning 'to let slacken' or 'to allow to sag'. Less common.
ロープをたるませないでください。
Don't let the rope slacken.
To describe a decrease in speed, momentum, or intensity of an action or process.
Also used metaphorically for pace, tension, or strictness slackening.
仕事のペースが緩んだ。
The pace of work slackened.
Means 'to fall' or 'to drop', often used for speed, enthusiasm, or quality decreasing.
Means 'to decline' or 'to weaken', used for energy, momentum, or intensity.
Loanword phrase meaning 'to slow down the pace'.
彼は疲れてペースダウンした。
He got tired and slackened his pace.
To describe rules, control, or discipline becoming less strict.
Commonly used for discipline, regulations, or vigilance slackening.
規律が緩んでいる。
Discipline is slackening.
Transitive version: to relax rules or control.
Literally 'to become sweet', meaning to become lenient or less strict.
先生の採点が甘くなった。
The teacher's grading slackened.
緩む (yurumu) is a general term for slackening of tension, tightness, or strictness. たるむ (tarumu) specifically implies sagging due to gravity or lack of support, like a loose rope or sagging skin.
In English, 'slackening' can be used broadly, but in Japanese, different verbs are used for speed (落ちる), intensity (衰える), or strictness (緩む). Using 緩む for speed is possible but less natural than 落ちる.
The speed slackened.
勢いが衰えた。
The momentum slackened.
政府は規制を緩めた。
The government slackened regulations.