1.
to lighten the mood; to ease the atmosphere; to break the ice
To make a tense, awkward, or formal atmosphere more relaxed and comfortable, typically through humor, a friendly remark, or warm behavior.
A useful expression for social and business situations. The base verb 和ませる is the causative form of 和む (to become calm/relaxed). 場 here means the atmosphere or mood of a gathering.
Common patterns
- 冗談で場を和ませる — to lighten the mood with a joke
- 場を和ませるのが上手 — good at easing the atmosphere
- 場の雰囲気を和ませる — to soften the atmosphere of a gathering