緩い

ゆるい
JLPT:N2
Frequency:
1

Not tight; loose — describes something that is slack or not firmly fastened.

I-Adjective

Examples

ズボンが緩くてベルトが必要だ。

The pants are loose so I need a belt.

ネジが緩いせいで機械がガタガタする。

The machine rattles because a screw is loose.

このバッグは口が緩いから中身が落ちないか心配だ。

I'm worried the bag's opening is loose and things might fall out.

2

Lenient or lax — not strict in enforcement or standards.

I-Adjective

Examples

あの先生は宿題に対してかなり緩い。

That teacher is pretty lenient about homework.

セキュリティが緩いと情報漏えいの危険がある。

If security is lax, there is a risk of information leakage.

規則が緩い会社は自由度が高い反面、管理が行き届かないこともある。

Companies with lax rules offer more freedom but may lack proper management.

3

Gently sloping or curved — describes a mild incline or gentle curve.

I-Adjective

Examples

この道は勾配が緩いので自転車でも登りやすい。

This road has a gentle slope, so it's easy to ride up by bike.

山道のカーブが緩いからスピードを出しやすい。

The mountain road has gentle curves, making it easy to pick up speed.

4

Slow or weak — indicating reduced force, intensity, or speed.

I-Adjective

Examples

風が緩くなってきたので海が穏やかだ。

The wind has calmed down, so the sea is calm.

試合で相手の攻撃が緩く、すぐにコントロールできた。

The opponent's attack was weak, so we were able to control it quickly.

5

Soft; not firm — lacking stiffness or firmness (often for fabric, structure, or texture).

I-Adjective

Examples

このセーターは編みが緩いので形が崩れやすい。

This sweater has a loose knit, so it easily loses its shape.

布団が緩くて寝返りするとずれてしまう。

The futon is loose, so it shifts when I turn over in my sleep.

6

Dialectal (Hokkaido/Tohoku): used in negative form to mean 'not easy' or 'not simple' (e.g., ゆるくない).

I-Adjective

Examples

この仕事、ゆるくないよ。気を抜けない。

This job isn't easy. You can't let your guard down.

Word Relationships