柔軟剤(じゅうなんざい)

柔軟剤(じゅうなんざい) is fabric softener. Formation: 柔軟(じゅうなん) 'soft, pliable' + 剤(ざい) 'agent, preparation' — the same suffix as in 洗剤(せんざい) and 漂白剤(ひょうはくざい).

It goes into a separate compartment from the detergent and is released during the rinse, so it is not mixed in at the start of the wash.

Collocations

• 柔軟剤(じゅうなんざい)を入(い)れる: to add fabric softener
• 柔軟剤(じゅうなんざい)の香(かお)り: the scent of fabric softener — a heavily marketed selling point in Japan
• 無香料(むこうりょう)の柔軟剤(じゅうなんざい): unscented fabric softener