たるむ

た

る

む

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Describes physical slackening or loss of tension: a rope loosens, skin droops, a ceiling sags, or a stretched object becomes limp.

年としをとると、ほおの肉にくがたるむ。

As you age, the flesh of your cheeks droops.

2

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

slack off; lose focus; not put one's heart in

usually written using kana alone

Used for a drop in mental tension or effort: attention wanders, work becomes careless, or one's attitude becomes lax.

たるむUsage64%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 弛む is also used but less common.
たゆむUsage28%
弛むUsage8%
- たるむ
  Kanji form; can also be read たゆむ in literary contexts.
- たゆむ

緩ゆるむ
緩む also means 'loosen' or 'slacken', but often implies a fastener or strictness becoming loose, whereas たるむ focuses on loss of tension in a line, surface, or mental focus.
だらける
だらける means 'to be lazy' or 'to loaf around' and is more colloquial; たるむ in sense 2 is about a temporary drop in tension or effort, not a general lazy disposition.

The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese verb. The kanji 弛 is used for its meaning 'slacken, relax'.