Translation guide
The English verb "straighten" covers making something physically straight, tidying up, and resolving issues. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being straightened and the context.
To cause something bent, curved, or crooked to become straight in shape or alignment.
The most general and natural way to say 'make something straight'. Works for objects, posture, lines, etc.
針金をまっすぐにしてください。
Please straighten the wire.
Sit with your back straight.
Used when straightening something by stretching or extending it, like limbs, hair, or a curled wire.
足を伸ばしてください。
Please straighten your legs.
彼女は縮れた髪を伸ばした。
She straightened her frizzy hair (by stretching it).
Formal/technical term for correcting or straightening something like teeth or a bent frame. Often used in medical or mechanical contexts.
歯列を矯正する。
To straighten teeth (orthodontic treatment).
To arrange things so they are orderly, not messy. Often overlaps with 'straighten up'.
The standard verb for tidying up a room, desk, etc. Implies putting things in their proper place.
部屋を片付けなさい。
Straighten up your room.
机の上を片付けた。
I straightened up my desk.
To put something in order, adjust, or make neat. Often used for appearance, hair, clothes, or a room.
Can also be used for aligning objects neatly, like straightening a picture frame or books on a shelf.
絵をまっすぐにしてください。
Please straighten the picture.
To fix, correct, or sort out a problematic situation, often used in phrases like 'straighten out'.
General verb for solving or resolving a problem. Works for most 'straighten out' contexts.
その問題を解決しなければならない。
We have to straighten out that problem.
To sort out, organize, or straighten out matters, thoughts, or affairs.
頭の中を整理する必要がある。
I need to straighten out my thoughts.
To correct or rectify something wrong, like a misunderstanding or a bad habit. More formal/literary.
Use まっすぐにする when focusing on physical alignment (straightening a bent object, posture, line). Use 片付ける when the goal is tidiness and putting things away (cleaning up a messy room).
曲がった釘をまっすぐにする。
Straighten a bent nail.
散らかった部屋を片付ける。
Straighten up a messy room.
Avoid directly translating 'straighten' as まっすぐにする in contexts like 'straighten up the room'. That would sound unnatural (focusing on alignment rather than tidying). Use 片付ける instead.
この針金をまっすぐにしてくれますか？
Can you straighten this wire?
お客さんが来る前に部屋を片付けないと。
I need to straighten up my room before guests arrive.
この誤解を解きましょう。
Let's straighten out this misunderstanding.
解く (ほどく) is also common for resolving misunderstandings.
彼はネクタイを整えた。
He straightened his tie.
髪を整えてください。
Please straighten your hair (make it neat).
I want to straighten out the misunderstanding.