Translation guide
The English verb "settle" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: resolving a dispute, making oneself comfortable, deciding on something, paying a bill, sinking or coming to rest, and colonizing a place.
To end an argument, conflict, or legal matter by reaching an agreement.
The most common and general verb for resolving problems, disputes, or issues.
私たちは話し合いで問題を解決した。
We settled the problem through discussion.
The dispute was settled peacefully.
Specifically means to settle through reconciliation or mutual agreement, often in legal or personal disputes.
彼らは裁判の前に和解した。
They settled before the trial.
To settle out of court privately, often used in legal contexts.
事故は示談にすることにした。
We decided to settle the accident out of court.
To sit or rest comfortably in a place, often after moving around.
Means to settle down, calm down, or become comfortable in a place. Often used for both physical settling and emotional calming.
ソファに座って落ち着いた。
I settled into the sofa.
新しい家にようやく落ち着いた。
I finally settled into my new house.
To relax and take it easy, often used when settling into a comfortable state.
家に帰ってゆっくりした。
I went home and settled in for a relaxing evening.
To make a final decision about something after discussion or thought.
General verb for deciding or settling on a choice.
旅行の日程を決めた。
We settled on the travel itinerary.
どの車を買うか決めなければならない。
We need to settle on which car to buy.
More formal than 決める, used for official or important decisions.
会議で方針が決定された。
The policy was settled at the meeting.
To reach an agreement or settlement through discussion.
To pay money that is owed.
Standard verb for paying a bill, debt, or account.
請求書を支払った。
I settled the bill.
借金を全部支払った。
I settled all my debts.
To settle an account or pay off a balance, often used in business or formal contexts.
経費を精算した。
I settled my expenses.
To liquidate or settle financial obligations, often used for final settlement.
会社の負債を清算した。
They settled the company's debts.
To move downward and come to rest, like sediment in liquid or dust in the air.
To sink or settle to the bottom, used for objects in liquid or air.
泥が水の底に沈んだ。
The mud settled to the bottom of the water.
To precipitate or settle as sediment, more technical.
不純物が沈殿した。
The impurities settled out.
To accumulate or settle, used for dust, snow, etc.
To go and live in a new place and make it your home, often as a group.
To settle in a new land as a colonist or pioneer.
開拓者たちはその土地に入植した。
The pioneers settled the land.
To settle permanently in a place, not necessarily as a colonist.
彼らはカナダに定住した。
They settled in Canada.
The English phrase 'settle down' (to become calm or get married) does not directly translate. Use 落ち着く for calming down, or 身を固める (みをかためる) for getting married and settling into a stable life.
そろそろ身を固めようと思う。
I think it's time to settle down (get married).
To express 'settle for' (accept something less than desired), use 〜で我慢する (がまんする) or 〜で妥協する (だきょうする).
安いホテルで我慢した。
I settled for a cheap hotel.
Literally 'settle one's hips', meaning to sit down and stay for a while.
ここに腰を落ち着けて話しましょう。
Let's settle down here and talk.
値段の話がついた。
We settled on the price.
Dust settled on the desk.