Translation guide
The English verb "relieve" covers several distinct meanings: reducing pain or discomfort, easing a burden or stress, replacing someone on duty, and making something less monotonous. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by these core uses, from physical relief to emotional and situational relief.
To reduce or remove physical pain, symptoms, or discomfort.
General verb for alleviating pain, symptoms, or intensity. Works for both physical and emotional discomfort.
この薬は痛みを和らげます。
This medicine relieves pain.
温かいお風呂が筋肉の緊張を和らげた。
A warm bath relieved the muscle tension.
More formal, often used in medical or technical contexts for reducing symptoms or burden.
この治療法は副作用を軽減します。
This treatment relieves side effects.
Literally 'remove', used when pain or discomfort is completely eliminated. Stronger than 'relieve'.
そのマッサージで肩こりが取り除かれた。
The massage relieved my stiff shoulders (completely).
To ease mental or emotional strain, worry, or pressure.
Same verb as for physical relief; very natural for emotional easing.
彼の言葉が私の不安を和らげた。
His words relieved my anxiety.
Common phrase meaning 'to put one's mind at ease', 'to relieve mental stress'. Often used in casual advice.
そんなに心配しないで、気を楽にして。
Don't worry so much, relieve your stress.
Literally 'make light', used for relieving a heavy emotional burden or atmosphere.
冗談を言って場の空気を軽くした。
He relieved the tense atmosphere with a joke.
Means 'heal' or 'soothe', often used for emotional wounds or fatigue. More about comfort than direct relief.
To take over a task or position from someone, often temporarily.
Pattern: [person]を[task/duty]から解放する. Means 'to free someone from a duty'. Natural for relieving someone of a burden.
彼をその責任から解放した。
We relieved him of that responsibility.
To take over a shift or duty; 'relieve' in the sense of replacing someone on duty.
次の警備員が彼と交代する。
The next guard will relieve him.
夜勤を交代してほしい。
I want someone to relieve me on the night shift.
Formal, means 'to exempt someone from a duty'. Often used in official contexts.
彼はその任務を免れさせられた。
He was relieved of the mission.
To make a situation less dull or repetitive by adding variety.
Literally 'add change to something'. Natural way to say 'relieve the monotony'.
毎日の散歩コースに変化をつけて、退屈を和らげている。
I vary my daily walking route to relieve the boredom.
Means 'to distract from boredom', often used for activities that relieve tedium.
音楽を聴いて退屈を紛らした。
I listened to music to relieve the boredom.
Polite or formal way to say go to the toilet.
Common euphemism for relieving oneself. Neutral and widely understood.
ちょっと用を足してきます。
I'm going to relieve myself quickly.
Direct and casual. Not a euphemism but the most common way to say it.
トイレに行きたい。
I need to relieve myself.
English 'relieve stress' is often translated as ストレスを和らげる, but in casual speech, ストレス解消 (stress relief) or 気分転換 (change of pace) are more natural. Saying ストレスを軽減する sounds formal/medical.
和らげる is a general verb for softening or easing pain, anxiety, etc. 軽減する is more formal and often used for measurable reduction (cost, symptoms, burden). Use 和らげる in everyday conversation.
この薬で頭痛が和らぎます。
This medicine will relieve your headache.
その知らせを聞いて安心した。
I was relieved to hear the news.
Often 'relieved' (adjective) is translated as 安心する or ほっとする, not directly from 'relieve'.
受付を交代してもらえますか？
Can you relieve me at the reception desk?
Music relieves my heart (soothes me).