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手ぬるい

てぬるい

lenient, lax

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 手ぬるい対応だった。

    てぬるいたいおうだった。

    The response was too lenient.

  2. そのやり方では手ぬるい。

    そのやりかたではてぬるい。

    That approach is far too soft.

  3. 処分が手ぬるいと批判が集まった。

    しょぶんがてぬるいとひはんがあつまった。

    Criticism mounted that the punishment was too lax.

Common patterns

手ぬるい対応
a lax response
手ぬるい処分
a lenient punishment
手ぬるいやり方
a soft approach

Memory tip

A complaint that someone is not being strict enough; it belongs to discipline and enforcement. 生ぬるい overlaps but can also mean literally lukewarm, which 手ぬるい never does.

Kanji in this word

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What does 手ぬるい mean?