くつろぐ

く

つ

ろ

ぐ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

くつろぐ · godan verb (-gu)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	くつろぐ	くつろがない
Polite	くつろぎます	くつろぎません
Past polite	くつろぎました	くつろぎませんでした
Past	くつろいだ	くつろがなかった
Te-form	くつろいで	くつろがないで
Desire	くつろぎたい	くつろぎたくない
Potential	くつろげる	くつろげない
Passive	くつろがれる	くつろがれない
Causative	くつろがせる	くつろがせない
Causative passive	くつろがせられるalso くつろがされる	くつろがせられないalso くつろがされない
Volitional	くつろごう
Polite volitional	くつろぎましょう
Imperative	くつろげ	くつろぐな
Conditional	くつろげば	くつろがなければ
Tara conditional	くつろいだら	くつろがなかったら

Pairs withくつろげる

Meanings

godan verb (-gu), intransitive verb

relax; feel at home; unwind

usually written using kana alone

Describes a state of physical and mental ease, often in a comfortable place or with familiar people. Implies letting one's guard down and being at ease.

家いえに帰かえると、ソファでくつろぐ。
When I get home, I relax on the sofa.
友とも達だちの家いえでくつろいでいると、時じ間かんが経たつのを忘わすれる。
When I'm relaxing at a friend's house, I lose track of time.

See all 50 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉でくつろぐto relax in/at a place
週しゅう末まつは家いえでゆっくりくつろぐ。
On weekends I relax leisurely at home.
くつろいだ雰ふん囲い気きa relaxed atmosphere
その店みせはくつろいだ雰ふん囲い気きで人にん気きがある。
That shop is popular for its relaxed atmosphere.
〈人ひと〉と寛くつろぐto relax together with someone
友とも達だちと寛くつろいでおしゃべりした。
I relaxed and chatted with a friend.

Kanji

寛tolerant, leniency, generosity

Transitive / intransitive

くつろげる
寛げる is the transitive counterpart used for loosening something tight, like a collar or sash, while 寛ぐ describes a person themselves becoming relaxed.

Related words

リラックスN3
リラックスする is a loanword-based verb for deliberate relaxation or stress relief, while 寛ぐ conveys a warmer, more natural feeling of being at ease in a comfortable environment.
休やすむN5
休む means to rest or stop activity, whereas 寛ぐ describes actively enjoying a comfortable, at-ease state rather than merely resting.
のんびりN3
のんびりする describes taking things easy without hurry or worry, while 寛ぐ specifically evokes physical comfort and feeling at home in a place.
ゆったりN2
くつろぐ is a verb meaning 'to relax/make oneself at home', while ゆったり is an adverb describing the relaxed manner or state itself.

Opposites

緊きん張ちょうN4
緊張する means to be tense or nervous, the opposite of the relaxed ease expressed by 寛ぐ.
かしこまる
くつろぐ means to relax and unwind, the opposite of the stiff, formal posture implied by 畏まる.

Word family

くつろぎ
ease; relaxation; comfort

Written forms

くつろぐUsage84%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 寛ぐ is rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
寛くつろぐUsage16%
Kanji form is uncommon; learners should prefer the kana spelling.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain, but it may be related to the classical verb くつろぶ (to be loose, to relax). The kanji 寛 means 'tolerant' or 'relaxed', fitting the meaning.