たるむ

た

る

む

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

たるむ · godan verb (-mu)

Meanings

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.

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.

肌はだがたるむfor skin to sag (from age, weight loss, etc.)
年ねん齢れいとともに肌はだがたるんできた。
My skin has started to sag as I've gotten older.
たるんだ〈物もの〉a sagging/flabby thing (skin, rope, stomach, etc.)
たるんだお腹なかが気きになる。
I'm self-conscious about my flabby stomach.
気き持もちがたるむfor one's focus or motivation to slacken
連れん休きゅうが続つづくと気き持もちがたるんでしまう。
When the holidays go on too long, I lose my focus and motivation.

弛たるめる sense 1
弛める is the transitive partner meaning to deliberately loosen something, while 弛む is intransitive and describes it becoming loose on its own.

緩ゆるむN1
緩む often describes a fastener, grip, or strict rule becoming loose, while 弛む focuses on a line, surface, or one's focus losing tension and sagging.
垂たれるN1sense 1
垂れる simply means to hang or droop downward, while 弛む specifically implies a loss of tautness that causes the sagging.
だらける sense 2
だらける is a colloquial word for being generally lazy or loafing around, whereas 弛む describes a temporary drop in tension or effort.
怠なまけるN3sense 2
怠ける means to be lazy or shirk work as a habit or choice, while 弛む describes attention or discipline slipping without a deliberate decision.

閉しまるN5sense 1
締まる means to become tight or firm, the direct opposite of 弛む's meaning of becoming slack or loose.
引ひき締しまるN1
たるむ describes skin or muscle sagging or going slack, contrasting with 引き締まる's sense of becoming firm and toned.

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

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