Translation guide
The English word 'smoothing' can refer to making a surface physically smooth, making a process or transition go more smoothly, or smoothing over social/interpersonal issues. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each of these meanings.
To make a surface even, flat, or free of roughness, such as sanding wood or smoothing fabric.
General verb meaning 'to make smooth'. Used for surfaces, skin, texture, etc.
Smooth the surface of the wood with sandpaper.
Emphasizes making something flat or level, often used for surfaces like ground or tabletops.
Smooth the ground before laying the tiles.
Means 'to polish' or 'to buff', implying smoothing by rubbing, often to a shine.
Polish the metal surface to make it smooth.
Often used for smoothing or leveling ground, soil, or wrinkles. Can also mean to tame or calm.
Smooth the soil in the field.
To make an operation, change, or flow go more easily, without interruptions or difficulties.
Means 'to make smooth' in the sense of facilitating a process, communication, or progress. Common in business contexts.
We hold regular meetings to smooth the progress of the project.
Loanword from English 'smooth', used widely for making processes, transitions, or interactions go without hitches.
Smooth the transition to the new system.
Formal noun-verb often used in official or business documents meaning 'facilitation' or 'smoothing'.
Aim to smooth trade.
To ease tensions, resolve conflicts, or make a social situation less awkward, often by calming people or glossing over problems.
Literally 'not to raise corners', meaning to avoid causing friction or offense, to keep things smooth in relationships.
He always speaks in a way that smooths things over.
Literally 'not to raise waves and wind', meaning to avoid causing trouble or disturbance, to keep the peace.
She avoided the topic to smooth things over.
Verb meaning to mediate, to smooth over a quarrel or awkward situation, often by saying something tactful.
The boss stepped in and smoothed over the quarrel between the two.
Literally 'to settle roundly', meaning to resolve a conflict peacefully and smoothly, often through compromise.
He intervened and smoothed over the situation.
Directly translating 'smoothing' as 滑らかにする in social contexts will sound unnatural. Use idiomatic phrases like 角を立てない or とりなす instead.
Both mean 'to make smooth' in a process sense. 円滑にする is slightly more formal and often used in business or official contexts, while スムーズにする is a casual loanword common in everyday speech.