ほどける

ほ

ど

け

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

ほどける · ichidan verb

Meanings

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Describes knots, strings, or tied things becoming undone by themselves. Also used for something unraveling or loosening naturally.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

loosen up; ease

usually written using kana alone

Used for tension, stiffness, or a strained atmosphere relaxing or easing naturally.

〈物もの〉の結むすび目めが解ほどけるa knot (in something) comes undone
靴くつのひもの結むすび目めが解ほどけてしまった。
The knot in my shoelace came undone.
緊きん張ちょうが解ほどけるtension eases
彼かれの笑え顔がおで、場ばの緊きん張ちょうが解ほどけた。
His smile eased the tension in the room.
〈物もの〉が解ほどけるsomething (a tied string, ribbon, etc.) comes untied
リボンが解ほどけて落おちてしまった。
The ribbon came untied and fell off.
心こころが解ほどけるone's heart softens or relaxes
彼かの女じょの優やさしい言こと葉ばに、みんなの心こころが解ほどけた。
Everyone's hearts softened at her kind words.

ほどくN3sense 1
解く(ほどく) is the transitive verb meaning to untie or undo something on purpose, while 解ける(ほどける) describes a knot or tie coming undone by itself.

緩ゆるむN1sense 1
緩む describes something becoming loose or slack in a general sense (screws, grip, rules), while 解ける specifically refers to a tied knot or string coming undone.
和やわらぐN1sense 2
和らぐ is used for feelings, pain, or mood softening, while 解ける in this sense specifically describes tension or a strained atmosphere easing.
解とけるN3
ほどける is used specifically for knots and ties coming undone, while 解ける covers that same sense plus solving puzzles and lifting bans or tension.
ほぐれるN1
解ける describes any kind of knot or fastening coming undone, while ほぐれる specifically suggests a gradual loosening of something that was tightly tangled or twisted.

閉しまるN5sense 1
締まる means to become tight or firmly tied, the opposite of 解ける meaning a knot coming loose.
緊きん張ちょうN4sense 2
緊張する means to become tense or nervous, the opposite of 解ける meaning tension easing or relaxing.
もつれるN1
解ける means a knot or tangle comes loose and unravels, the opposite of 縺れる, which means threads or strings become tangled.
絡からみ合あう
解ける means for something tied or tangled to come loose or undone, the opposite of 絡み合う's sense of things becoming intertwined.

解とけるN3
解ける(とける) written with the same kanji means 'to melt' or 'to be solved', while 解ける(ほどける) means a knot or tension coming undone or easing.
溶とけるN2
溶ける (とける) means to melt or dissolve, while 解ける (ほどける) means to come untied or unravel, and the two are easily confused when written without kana.

ほどけるUsage99%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 解ける is also used but can be confused with 解ける (とける).
解ほどけるUsage1%
Kanji spelling; less common than kana and may be misread as とける.

Intransitive form of 解く (ほどく, 'to untie'). The kanji 解 carries the meaning of 'unravel' or 'loosen'.