たるみ
Meanings
1
usually written using kana alone
Physical looseness or slack in a rope, cable, skin, or other material. Often used for sagging skin or a slack line.
Please take up the slack in the rope.
As you age, your skin develops sagginess.
2
usually written using kana alone
A feeling of mental slackness, boredom, or lack of tension; a letdown after excitement or a period of low motivation.
After the long holiday, I started to feel a sense of letdown.
There is a noticeable slackness in the work.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉にたるみができるfor sagging/slack to develop in something
As she got older, sagging began to appear in the skin of her face.
- 気持ちにたるみが出るfor one's motivation or focus to slacken
After long stretches of practice, one's motivation starts to slacken.
- 〈物〉のたるみを取るto remove/tighten up sagging or slack in something
She does exercises to get rid of the sagging in her face.
- 〈物〉のたるみを直すto fix the slack in a rope, cable, etc.
I fixed the slack in the rope before climbing.