落ち着く
ochitsuku[o̞t͡ɕit͡sɨ̥kɯ̟]
To chill out in Japanese, use 落ち着く (ochitsuku).
落ち着く is used to describe the act of becoming calm or composed. While English speakers often use 'chill out' to refer to leisure or relaxation, 落ち着く is more frequently used in the sense of 'calming down' after a period of agitation or excitement.
Meaning: relax or take time out (verb)
Which one should you use?
If you want to express the English sense of 'to relax' for leisure, you might instead use リラックスする, which is a word borrowed from English. In contrast, 落ち着く specifically emphasizes the transition to a composed state.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal or professional setting where you need to ask someone to become calm and composed, you can use the phrase 冷静（れいせい）になってください. If you want to ask someone to calm down in a respectful manner, you can use the polite form 落ち着いてください. The borrowed word リラックスする can be used in both formal and informal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this word as a command or a request to tell someone to 'calm down' or 'chill out', you use the te-form: 落ち着いて.
How do you pronounce it?
ochitsuku
Did you know?
- Japanese has a concept called 間 (ma) which refers to the silence or space between things. True relaxation or 'chilling out' is often associated with appreciating this empty space rather than just an activity.
- Using 落ち着いて to a superior in a Japanese company can be seen as rude or condescending. Even though it is a common phrase, it implies the other person has lost control of their emotions.
- The verb 落ち着く literally means 'to settle' or 'to land', like sediment sinking to the bottom of a liquid. This imagery describes the mental process of emotions settling down to create a calm state.
Examples in context
- 緊張せずに冷静になってください。Please stay calm and composed without being nervous.
- 試験の前にリラックスすることが大切です。It is important to relax before an exam.
- カフェで落ち着く時間が必要です。Kafe de ochitsuku jikan ga hitsuyō desu.I need some time to chill out at a cafe.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 落ち着く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
