慰(なぐさ)め

なぐさめ
noun
comfort; consolation; solace
1. comfort; consolation; solace
Words, actions, or things that bring comfort or relief to someone who is sad, suffering, or distressed.
彼女(かのじょ)の言葉(ことば)が慰(なぐさ)めになった。
Her words were a comfort to me.
友人(ゆうじん)からの慰(なぐさ)めの手紙(てがみ)を読(よ)んだ。
I read a letter of consolation from a friend.
どんな慰(なぐさ)めの言葉(ことば)をかけても、彼(かれ)の悲(かな)しみは消(き)えなかった。
No matter what words of comfort I offered, his sadness wouldn't go away.
2. amusement; diversion; pastime
Something that provides entertainment or distraction from boredom or hardship.
音楽(おんがく)が唯一(ゆいいつ)の慰(なぐさ)めだった。
Music was my only solace.
読書(どくしょ)は日々(ひび)の慰(なぐさ)めになっている。
Reading serves as a daily diversion.
一人暮(ひとりぐ)らしの祖母(そぼ)にとって、猫(ねこ)が大(おお)きな慰(なぐさ)めになっている。
For my grandmother who lives alone, her cat is a great source of comfort.

The noun form of the verb 慰(なぐさ)める (to comfort, to console). Can refer both to emotional consolation and to things that serve as amusement or solace.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 慰(なぐさ)めの言葉(ことば): words of comfort
  • 慰(なぐさ)めになる: to serve as consolation/comfort
  • 気休(きやす)めの慰(なぐさ)め: hollow comfort

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 癒(いや)し: healing, soothing — focuses on therapeutic relief
  • 励(はげ)まし: encouragement — focuses on motivating someone forward
  • 慰安(いあん): comfort, recreation — more formal; often used in compounds like 慰安旅行(いあんりょこう) (company trip)
general
Added 2026.4.3 5:19
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