Translation guide
How to express the idea of 'going easy' on someone or something in Japanese, including being lenient, gentle, or not pushing too hard.
To treat someone gently, not be harsh, or go easy on them in terms of discipline or demands.
Literally 'to look with big eyes', meaning to overlook faults or be lenient. Common in everyday speech.
今回は大目に見てあげる。
I'll go easy on you this time.
To go easy on someone by holding back one's full strength or strictness. Often used in competitive or disciplinary contexts.
初心者だから手加減してあげて。
He's a beginner, so go easy on him.
To be soft or lenient, literally 'to make sweet'. Often used when someone is not strict enough.
先生は生徒に甘くする。
The teacher goes easy on the students.
To show mercy or leniency, a more formal expression. Literally 'to add a hand-heart'.
審査員は手心を加えた。
The judges went easy on them.
To handle something or someone carefully, without using too much force.
To be gentle or kind. The most straightforward way to say 'go easy' in a physical sense.
赤ちゃんに優しくしてね。
Go easy on the baby.
To handle gently or with care. 'そっと' means softly or quietly.
壊れやすいからそっと扱って。
It's fragile, so go easy on it.
To moderate one's actions, not go too hard on an activity.
To do something in moderation, not overdo it. Very common advice.
お酒はほどほどにしなさい。
Go easy on the alcohol.
To refrain from or cut back on something. More direct than 'ほどほどにする'.
甘いものは控えてください。
Please go easy on sweets.
Don't overdo it / take it easy. Often used when telling someone not to push themselves too hard.
無理しないでね。
Go easy on yourself.
手加減する is about adjusting your force or strictness downward, often in a skill-based or competitive setting. 大目に見る is about overlooking mistakes or being lenient in judgment, more about attitude than physical force.
テニスの試合で手加減した。
I went easy on him in the tennis match.
彼の遅刻を大目に見た。
I went easy on him for being late.