1.
familiarity, getting accustomed
The state or process of becoming accustomed to something through experience.
仕事は慣れが大事だ。
Getting used to the work is important.
運転は慣れの問題だ。
Driving is a matter of getting used to it.
新しい環境にも慣れてきて、毎日が楽しくなった。
I've gotten used to the new environment, and every day has become enjoyable.
2.
complacency, over-familiarity
A negative sense where excessive familiarity leads to carelessness or taking things for granted.
慣れは怖い。
Complacency is dangerous.
慣れから油断が生まれる。
Carelessness is born from over-familiarity.
長年の慣れで安全確認を怠ってしまった。
Due to years of complacency, I neglected the safety check.
The noun form of the verb 慣れる (to get accustomed to). Has both a positive sense (gaining experience) and a negative sense (becoming complacent).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 慣れの問題 — a matter of getting used to it
- 慣れが必要 — requires getting accustomed
- 慣れからくる油断 — carelessness from over-familiarity
- 慣れは怖い — complacency is dangerous
USAGE:
Sense 1 is encouraging — emphasizing that practice and exposure will make things easier. Sense 2 is cautionary — warning that too much familiarity leads to mistakes. The phrase 慣れは怖い is a common warning.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 経験 — experience (broader, emphasizes what was learned)
- 習慣 — habit (repeated behavior, not the process of adapting)