潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)

じゅんかつゆ
noun
lubricant; lubricating oil
technologyabstract
1. lubricant; lubricating oil
Oil used to reduce friction between moving parts in machinery and equipment.
機械(きかい)に潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)を差(さ)す。
Apply lubricating oil to the machine.
潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)が切(き)れると故障(こしょう)の原因(げんいん)になる。
Running out of lubricant can cause breakdowns.
自転車(じてんしゃ)のチェーンに潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)を塗(ぬ)った。
I applied lubricant to the bicycle chain.
2. something that smooths relations; social lubricant
Figuratively, something that helps relationships or interactions proceed smoothly.
酒(さけ)はコミュニケーションの潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)だ。
Alcohol is a social lubricant.
ユーモアは人間関係(にんげんかんけい)の潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)になる。
Humor serves as a social lubricant in relationships.
雑談(ざつだん)は職場(しょくば)の潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)の役割(やくわり)を果(は)たしている。
Small talk serves as a lubricant in the workplace.

Etymology

潤滑(じゅんかつ) (lubrication, smooth) + 油(ゆ) (oil)

LITERAL USAGE (Sense 1):
Used for machinery maintenance including:

FIGURATIVE USAGE (Sense 2):
Commonly used metaphorically to describe things that facilitate smooth interactions:

Related words

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 潤滑剤(じゅんかつざい) (lubricant)
general
Added 2026.1.20 17:47 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07500/07561_junkatsuyu