潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)

じゅんかつゆ
noun
lubricant; lubricating oil
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.
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 for communication.

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

LITERAL USAGE (Sense 1):

Used for machinery maintenance including:

  • 自動車(じどうしゃ) - automobiles (engine oil)
  • 工場(こうじょう)機械(きかい) - factory machinery
  • 自転車(じてんしゃ) - bicycles

FIGURATIVE USAGE (Sense 2):

Commonly used metaphorically to describe things that facilitate smooth interactions:

  • お酒(さけ) - alcohol
  • ユーモア - humor
  • 雑談(ざつだん) - small talk

RELATED TERMS:

  • 潤滑(じゅんかつ) - lubrication
  • 潤滑剤(じゅんかつざい) - lubricant (includes non-oil lubricants)
  • グリス - grease
  • オイル - oil
  • 油(あぶら)を差(さ)す - to oil, to lubricate

COLLOCATIONS:

  • 潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)を差(さ)す/塗(ぬ)る - to apply lubricant
  • 潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)が切(き)れる - to run out of lubricant
  • 潤滑油(じゅんかつゆ)の役割(やくわり)を果(は)たす - to serve as a lubricant (figurative)
general
Added 2026.1.20 17:47
07500/07561_junkatsuyu