noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb
somewhat loose; slightly slack
Describes something that is a little loose, not tight. Often used as a no-adjective or adverb. It is usually written in kana.
This screw is somewhat loose.
I bought a pair of slightly loose pants.
靴ひもをゆるめに結ぶ。
I tie my shoelaces loosely.
ベルトをゆるめにして着けた。
I put the belt on a bit loose.
I fastened the screw a bit loosely.
締め means tying or tightening something, while 緩め describes making or keeping something loose or slack.
緩め means loosening or slackening, the opposite of 固め's sense of tightening or hardening.
ゆるい is the plain i-adjective meaning 'loose' and can be conjugated (ゆるかった, ゆるくない), while 緩め is a noun/adverbial form meaning 'somewhat loose' that doesn't conjugate on its own.
loosen; slacken · relax (attention, guard); let down (one's guard); ease (tension) · relax (a rule); ease (restrictions); loosen (control) · reduce (speed); slow down; ease up · make more gradual (slope)
Rare kanji spelling; 緩 suggests looseness but is uncommon for this word.
Rare kanji spelling; 弛 suggests slackness but is uncommon for this word.
Rare kanji spelling; 目 is ateji-like and not standard.
Derived from the adjective ゆるい (loose) with the suffix め, which indicates a moderate degree or tendency. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.