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B1 adverb 9 min de lecture

スムーズに

sumu-zu ni
Exemples スムーズに en 30 secondes
Explication スムーズに in your Level:
At the A1 level, you can think of 'スムーズに' (sumuuzu ni) as a way to say 'no problems'. Even if you don't know the grammar for 'without complications', you can use this word with simple verbs like 'iku' (to go) or 'suru' (to do). For example, 'Test ga sumuuzu ni owatta' (The test finished smoothly). It is a loanword from English, so it is easy to remember! Just remember to add 'ni' after 'sumuuzu' when you use it before a verb. It's a very positive word that shows you are happy with how something happened.
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At the A2 level, you start using 'スムーズに' to describe daily activities and simple processes. You can use it to talk about traffic ('Kuruma ga sumuuzu ni ugoita' - The car moved smoothly) or your studies. It helps you sound more natural than just saying 'yokatta' (was good). It describes the 'way' something happened. At this level, you should practice pairing it with verbs like 'susumu' (to progress) and 'owaru' (to finish). It’s a great word for giving status updates in a simple way.
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At the B1 level, 'スムーズに' becomes an essential tool for workplace communication and social coordination. You should be able to use it to describe business processes, negotiations, and social events. It’s particularly useful for explaining that a plan is working well: 'Keikaku ga sumuuzu ni susunde iru' (The plan is progressing smoothly). You also begin to see the difference between this word and more formal versions like 'enkatsu ni'. At B1, you should also be able to use the negative form 'sumuuzu ni ikanai' to describe when things are not going well or are hitting obstacles.
At the B2 level, you can use 'スムーズに' to describe more abstract concepts, such as the flow of a conversation, the transition between different stages of a project, or the coordination between different teams. You understand that it implies a lack of 'friction' (masatsu). You can use it to describe subtle things like 'sumuuzu na setsumei' (a smooth explanation) or 'sumuuzu na ninkei-henkan' (a smooth handover of duties). You are also expected to recognize when 'sumuuzu ni' might be too casual and when to switch to 'enkatsu ni' or 'todokoorinaku' in formal writing.
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At the C1 level, you use 'スムーズに' with high precision, often pairing it with sophisticated verbs like 'renkei suru' (to collaborate) or 'shuyoku suru' (to converge). You understand the psychological nuance of the word—how it suggests a sense of harmony and competence. You can use it in complex sentences to describe the efficiency of social systems or the fluidity of high-level performance in arts or sports. You also know how to use it ironically or to describe the 'ideal' state in a hypothetical scenario during a debate or high-level negotiation.
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At the C2 level, 'スムーズに' is part of your total mastery of Japanese adverbs. You can distinguish between the 'modern/dynamic' feel of this katakana word and the 'traditional/heavy' feel of its kanji synonyms. You use it effortlessly in fast-paced professional environments to provide instant, accurate feedback. You might also use it in creative writing to contrast modern efficiency with more chaotic or traditional methods. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker who uses loanwords strategically to sound contemporary and efficient.
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Exemples

スムーズに en 30 secondes

  • Used to describe processes or actions that happen without any problems, delays, or friction.
  • A very common loanword in business, technology, and daily life, derived from English 'smooth'.
  • Always used as an adverb with the particle 'ni' (スムーズに) to modify a verb.
  • Indicates efficiency and harmony, often used to reassure others that a plan is working well.

The word スムーズに (sumuuzu ni) is a quintessential example of how the Japanese language adopts English loanwords to fill specific functional and psychological niches. Derived from the English adjective 'smooth' and combined with the Japanese adverbial particle 'ni', it describes actions, processes, or transitions that occur without friction, interruption, or complication. While its literal English ancestor might refer to the physical texture of a surface, the Japanese usage is overwhelmingly focused on the flow of events and the efficiency of systems. In a culture that places a high value on harmony (wa) and the avoidance of conflict, this word is used daily to express the ideal state of affairs: things moving forward exactly as planned without the 'sand in the gears' of human error or mechanical failure.

Core Nuance
The absence of resistance. This applies to physical movement, but more frequently to social interactions, business negotiations, and technical operations.

You will encounter this word in almost every professional setting. When a project manager asks if things are going 'smoothly', they are looking for reassurance that there are no hidden bottlenecks. In interpersonal communication, it refers to a conversation that flows naturally without awkward silences or misunderstandings. It is the linguistic equivalent of a green light at every intersection. Unlike its more formal counterpart, 円滑に (enkatsu ni), which sounds quite stiff and academic, スムーズに is versatile enough for both a business report and a casual chat with friends about a weekend trip.

新しいシステムへの移行はスムーズに行われました。(The transition to the new system was carried out smoothly.)

Beyond business, it is used in sports to describe fluid motion, in education to describe a student's progress through a curriculum, and in travel to describe a journey without delays. It implies a sense of relief and competence. If a surgery goes 'smoothly', it means there were no unexpected complications. If a wedding goes 'smoothly', it means the schedule was kept and the guests were happy. It is a word that celebrates the beauty of a well-oiled machine, whether that machine is literal or metaphorical.

Common Contexts
1. Business operations and project management. 2. Logistics and transportation. 3. Physical movements in dance or athletics. 4. Interpersonal negotiations.

話し合いがスムーズに進んで安心しました。(I was relieved that the discussion proceeded smoothly.)

In summary, スムーズに is your go-to adverb for describing any situation where the path is clear and the momentum is steady. It is a word of efficiency, harmony, and success. Whether you are describing a computer program running without bugs or a first date where the conversation never lagged, this word captures that perfect state of 'no problems encountered'.

Grammatically, スムーズに functions as an adverb, which means it almost always precedes a verb to modify the manner in which an action is performed. The structure is typically: [Subject/Process] + が + スムーズに + [Verb]. The most common verbs paired with this word are 進む (susumu - to progress), 運ぶ (hakobu - to proceed/carry), 動く (ugoku - to move), and 行われる (okonawareru - to be held/performed).

Verb Pairing: 進む (Susumu)
Used when a project, meeting, or plan is moving toward its goal without being stopped by obstacles.

準備がスムーズに進んでいます。(Preparations are progressing smoothly.)

One important grammatical distinction is that while スムーズ can be used as a 'na-adjective' (e.g., スムーズな進行 - a smooth progression), the adverbial form with に is much more frequent in spoken and written Japanese. When using it in the negative, you would say スムーズにいかない (sumuuzu ni ikanai), meaning 'things are not going smoothly'. This is a very common way to express frustration with a process that has hit a snag.

渋滞が解消され、車がスムーズに流れ始めました。(The traffic jam cleared, and cars began to flow smoothly.)

In more advanced usage, you might see it paired with complex verbs like 連携する (renkei suru - to cooperate/link) or 移行する (ikou suru - to migrate/transition). These are common in IT and corporate environments. For example, 'The two departments are cooperating smoothly' would be 「二つの部署がスムーズに連携している」. The focus here is on the lack of friction between the two groups.

Verb Pairing: 運ぶ (Hakobu)
Often used for negotiations or deals. It implies that the 'carrying' of the conversation to a conclusion is going well.

商談がスムーズに運び、契約が成立しました。(The business talks proceeded smoothly, and the contract was concluded.)

Finally, remember that スムーズに can modify the start of an action as well. If you want to say someone started their new job without any trouble, you could say 「スムーズに仕事を始めた」. It emphasizes the ease of the entry into the new situation.

The word スムーズに is a staple of 'Business Japanese' (BJT) but is equally at home in 'Life Japanese'. In the office, you will hear it during the morning 'cho-rei' (morning meeting) when a team leader asks, "Is everything going smoothly?" (「作業はスムーズに進んでいますか？」). It serves as a polite check-in that doesn't sound too accusatory or micro-managing. It’s also ubiquitous in customer service. A bank teller or a flight attendant might use it to describe a process: "To ensure things go smoothly, please have your ID ready."

手続きをスムーズに進めるために、書類を事前にご記入ください。(To proceed with the procedures smoothly, please fill out the forms in advance.)

You will also hear it frequently in public announcements. If a train line has been delayed and then resumes service, the conductor might announce that traffic is now 'flowing smoothly' (「スムーズに流れております」). In the world of technology, app reviews and tech news often use this word to describe user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX). A 'smooth' app is one that doesn't lag and has intuitive navigation.

In casual social life, it’s used when planning group activities. If you are organizing a dinner party and everyone arrives on time and the food is ready, you’d say everything went スムーズに. It carries a sense of social relief—that there was no 'kuki ga yomenai' (unable to read the air) moments or awkward logistical failures. It is also used in the context of learning. A teacher might say, "You’ve moved to the next level very smoothly," praising the student's natural progression.

Domain: Sports & Fitness
Coaches use it to describe form. A golf swing or a swimming stroke should be 'smooth' to maximize power and minimize wasted energy.

関節をスムーズに動かすためのストレッチをしましょう。(Let's do stretches to move your joints smoothly.)

Finally, in the realm of psychology and self-help, you'll hear about 「スムーズな人間関係」 (smooth human relationships). This refers to a life free of unnecessary drama and conflict. Japanese social harmony often relies on the 'grease' of polite language and social cues to keep interactions スムーズに.

The most common mistake English speakers make with スムーズに is over-relying on it to describe physical textures. While you can technically use it for physical objects, Japanese has much more specific and common words for that. If you want to say a table is smooth to the touch, you should use すべすべ (subesube) or なめらか (nameraka). Using スムーズに for a physical surface sounds 'translation-ese' and slightly robotic.

Mistake: Physical Texture
Incorrect: この机はスムーズに感じます (This desk feels smooth).
Correct: この机はなめらかです (This desk is smooth/sleek).

Another mistake is confusing スムーズに with 順調に (junchou ni). While they are very similar, 順調に specifically means 'according to plan' or 'favorably'. You can have something go スムーズに (without friction) even if it isn't necessarily 順調 (on the right track for the long-term goal), though they usually go together. Think of スムーズに as the speed and ease of the current moment, and 順調に as the overall health of the project.

× 道路が順調に流れています。
○ 道路がスムーズに流れています。(Traffic is flowing smoothly.)

Finally, be careful with formality. While スムーズに is perfectly fine in most business situations, in extremely formal written documents (like legal contracts or high-level government reports), the kanji-based 円滑に (enkatsu ni) is preferred. If you use the katakana word in a very stiff academic paper, it might look a bit too casual or modern. However, for 95% of situations, スムーズに is the more natural choice for modern Japanese speakers.

Register Check
Casual/Neutral: スムーズに (Sumuuzu ni)
Formal/Written: 円滑に (Enkatsu ni)

Lastly, beginners sometimes forget the に. Since it's an adverb modifying a verb, the に is mandatory. Saying "Kaigi sumuuzu susunda" sounds like broken Japanese. It must be "Kaigi ga sumuuzu ni susunda" to be grammatically correct.

Japanese is rich with adverbs that describe the 'how' of an action. Understanding the subtle differences between スムーズに and its synonyms will elevate your Japanese from functional to nuanced. Let's look at the most common alternatives.

円滑に (Enkatsu ni)
This is the formal, 'kanji' version of smoothly. En means circle/round and katsu means slippery/smooth. It is used in official speeches and business reports. If スムーズに is a well-paved road, 円滑に is a perfectly polished sphere.
順調に (Junchou ni)
Meaning 'favorably' or 'according to plan'. Use this when you want to emphasize that the outcome is looking good. For example, a pregnancy or a long-term recovery is usually 順調, whereas a single medical procedure might go スムーズ.

復旧作業は順調に進んでいます。(The restoration work is progressing favorably/on schedule.)

滞りなく (Todokoorinaku)
A very formal expression meaning 'without delay' or 'without a hitch'. It is frequently used in ceremonial contexts, such as weddings or funerals, to state that everything was completed without any problems.
すいすい (Sui-sui)
An onomatopoeic (gitaigo) word that implies effortless, light movement. Think of a fish swimming or a person answering easy questions one after another. It’s more casual and descriptive of the physical feeling of ease than スムーズに.

Choosing between these depends on your audience. If you are talking to your boss about a project, スムーズに is safe and professional. If you are writing a contract, use 円滑に. If you are telling a story about how you breezed through an exam, すいすい or すんなり will make you sound more like a native speaker.

Guide de prononciation

UK /sɯ.mɯː.zɯ.ɲi/
US /su.mu.zu.ni/
Heiban (Flat) style is common: [su-mu-u-zu-ni].
Rime avec
Ryuuzu ni (fluent) Juuzu ni (flexible) Kyuuzu ni (emergency) Fuuzu ni (in the style of) Chuuzu ni (mid-way) Yuuzu ni (accommodation) Shuuzu ni (shoes - though rare) Nuuzu ni (news - though rare)
Erreurs fréquentes
  • Pronouncing it exactly like English 'smooth' without the Japanese vowels.
  • Forgetting the long 'u' sound (muu).
  • Dropping the 'ni' when modifying a verb.
  • Confusing 'zu' with 'tsu'.
  • Over-emphasizing the 's' sound.
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Exemples par niveau

1

テストはスムーズに終わりました。

The test finished smoothly.

Verb: 終わりました (finished)

2

スムーズに行きましょう。

Let's go smoothly / without trouble.

Verb: 行きましょう (let's go)

3

買い物はスムーズにできました。

I was able to do the shopping smoothly.

Verb: できました (was able to do)

4

バスがスムーズに来ました。

The bus came smoothly (on time).

Verb: 来ました (came)

5

スムーズに話せました。

I was able to speak smoothly.

Verb: 話せました (could speak)

6

朝の準備がスムーズにできました。

I got ready in the morning smoothly.

Noun: 準備 (preparation)

7

スムーズに座れました。

I was able to sit down smoothly (found a seat easily).

Verb: 座れました (could sit)

8

宿題がスムーズに終わった。

Homework finished smoothly.

Informal: 終わった

1

仕事がスムーズに進んでいます。

Work is progressing smoothly.

Verb: 進んでいます (is progressing)

2

車がスムーズに流れています。

Cars are flowing smoothly (traffic is good).

Verb: 流れています (is flowing)

3

旅行の計画がスムーズに決まりました。

The travel plans were decided smoothly.

Verb: 決まりました (was decided)

4

新しいスマホはスムーズに動きます。

The new smartphone moves (operates) smoothly.

Verb: 動きます (moves/operates)

5

スムーズにチェックインできました。

I was able to check in smoothly.

Context: Hotel/Airport

6

会議がスムーズに終わってよかったです。

I'm glad the meeting finished smoothly.

Ending: 〜てよかったです

7

彼はスムーズに日本語を読みます。

He reads Japanese smoothly.

Verb: 読みます (reads)

8

料理がスムーズに作れました。

I was able to cook the meal smoothly.

Verb: 作れました (could make)

1

交渉がスムーズに進み、合意に至りました。

Negotiations progressed smoothly and reached an agreement.

Verb: 至りました (reached)

2

イベントの設営をスムーズに行いましょう。

Let's carry out the event setup smoothly.

Verb: 行いましょう (let's perform)

3

新メンバーがチームにスムーズに馴染みました。

The new member blended into the team smoothly.

Verb: 馴染みました (blended in/acclimated)

4

システムがスムーズに稼働しています。

The system is operating smoothly.

Verb: 稼働しています (is operating)

5

手続きがスムーズに進むよう、準備してください。

Please prepare so that the procedure goes smoothly.

Pattern: 〜よう、〜してください

6

トラブルもなく、スムーズに引越しが終わりました。

Without any trouble, the move finished smoothly.

Phrase: トラブルもなく (without trouble)

7

司会者がスムーズに進行してくれました。

The MC proceeded smoothly.

Verb: 進行してくれました (proceeded for us)

8

データの移行がスムーズに完了しました。

The data migration was completed smoothly.

Verb: 完了しました (completed)

1

部署間の連携をスムーズにすることが課題です。

Making inter-departmental cooperation smooth is the challenge.

Grammar: 〜をスムーズにする (to make ... smooth)

2

議論がスムーズに運ぶよう、ファシリテーターを置く。

Place a facilitator so that the discussion proceeds smoothly.

Verb: 運ぶ (to proceed)

3

アップデート後、アプリがスムーズに動作するようになった。

After the update, the app started to operate smoothly.

Pattern: 〜ようになった (became so)

4

物流がスムーズに行われないと、経済に影響が出る。

If logistics are not carried out smoothly, it will affect the economy.

Conditional: 〜ないと (if not)

5

世代交代がスムーズに行われた珍しいケースだ。

It's a rare case where the succession of generations went smoothly.

Noun: 世代交代 (generation change)

6

患者の受け入れをスムーズにするための新ルール。

New rules to make the acceptance of patients smooth.

Grammar: 〜ための (for the purpose of)

7

会話をスムーズに繋げるためのテクニックを学ぶ。

Learn techniques to connect conversation smoothly.

Verb: 繋げる (to connect)

8

プロジェクトがスムーズに立ち上がった。

The project launched smoothly.

Verb: 立ち上がる (to launch/start up)

1

法改正がスムーズに施行されるよう、細心の注意を払う。

Pay close attention so that the law change is implemented smoothly.

Verb: 施行される (to be implemented/enforced)

2

官民の連携がスムーズに機能している好例と言える。

It can be said to be a good example of public-private cooperation functioning smoothly.

Phrase: 好例と言える (can be said to be a good example)

3

感情の起伏を抑え、スムーズにプレゼンをこなした。

He suppressed his emotional ups and downs and handled the presentation smoothly.

Verb: こなした (handled/managed)

4

事業継承がスムーズに行えるかは、後継者の手腕次第だ。

Whether business succession can be done smoothly depends on the successor's skill.

Pattern: 〜次第だ (depends on)

5

新旧の技術をスムーズに融合させることに成功した。

Succeeded in smoothly fusing old and new technologies.

Verb: 融合させる (to fuse/merge)

6

サプライチェーンをスムーズに維持するための戦略的投資。

Strategic investment to maintain the supply chain smoothly.

Noun: 戦略的投資 (strategic investment)

7

多国籍チームがスムーズに意思疎通を図るための工夫。

Ingenuity for a multinational team to achieve smooth communication.

Phrase: 意思疎通を図る (to achieve communication)

8

混乱を避け、スムーズに政権交代が完了した。

The change of government was completed smoothly, avoiding confusion.

Verb: 避ける (to avoid)

1

グローバル市場への進出をスムーズに軌道に乗せる。

To smoothly get the expansion into the global market on track.

Idiom: 軌道に乗せる (to get on track)

2

各セクションの利害関係を調整し、全体をスムーズに回す。

Adjust the interests of each section and run the whole thing smoothly.

Verb: 回す (to rotate/run)

3

未曾有の事態においても、業務をスムーズに継続する強靭な組織。

A resilient organization that continues operations smoothly even in unprecedented situations.

Adjective: 強靭な (resilient/tough)

4

論理の飛躍を排し、スムーズに結論へ導く筆致。

A writing style that eliminates logical leaps and leads smoothly to the conclusion.

Noun: 筆致 (writing style/stroke of the pen)

5

社会基盤のデジタル化をスムーズに浸透させるための啓発活動。

Awareness activities to smoothly permeate the digitalization of social infrastructure.

Verb: 浸透させる (to permeate/spread)

6

既存の枠組みからスムーズに脱却し、新たなパラダイムを構築する。

To smoothly break away from existing frameworks and build a new paradigm.

Verb: 脱却する (to break away/free oneself)

7

異なる文化圏の価値観をスムーズに包摂する。

To smoothly encompass/include the values of different cultural spheres.

Verb: 包摂する (to encompass/subsume)

8

市場の歪みを是正し、資本の流動性をスムーズに確保する。

Correct market distortions and smoothly ensure capital liquidity.

Noun: 流動性 (liquidity)

Collocations courantes

スムーズに進む
スムーズに運ぶ
スムーズに流れる
スムーズに動く
スムーズに移行する
スムーズに連携する
スムーズに受け入れる
スムーズに導入する
スムーズに回転する
スムーズに終了する

Phrases Courantes

スムーズにいかない

— Things are not going smoothly / hitting a snag.

なかなかスムーズにいかないものだ。

スムーズな進行

— Smooth progression (often used for events).

スムーズな進行をお願いします。

スムーズな対応

— Smooth/efficient handling of a situation.

スムーズな対応に感謝します。

スムーズな導入

— Smooth implementation/introduction of something.

新ルールのスムーズな導入を図る。

スムーズな流れ

— A smooth flow (traffic, water, or events).

全体のスムーズな流れを作る。

スムーズな操作

— Smooth operation (of a device).

片手でもスムーズな操作が可能です。

スムーズな受け渡し

— Smooth handover (of items or information).

荷物のスムーズな受け渡しを行う。

スムーズな切り替え

— Smooth switching/transition.

モードのスムーズな切り替え。

スムーズなコミュニケーション

— Smooth communication.

スムーズなコミュニケーションが不可欠だ。

スムーズな滑り出し

— A smooth start/launch.

新事業はスムーズな滑り出しを見せた。

Expressions idiomatiques

"スムーズに事を運ぶ"

— To handle matters smoothly to reach a goal.

ベテランの彼ならスムーズに事を運ぶだろう。

Professional
"スムーズにバトンを渡す"

— To hand over responsibilities smoothly to a successor.

後任にスムーズにバトンを渡したい。

Metaphorical
"スムーズにレールに乗る"

— To get onto a smooth track (start successfully).

新生活がスムーズにレールに乗った。

Casual
"スムーズに風に乗る"

— To go with the flow easily (like riding the wind).

流行のスムーズに風に乗って売れた。

Literary
"スムーズに歯車が噛み合う"

— When all parts of a team or system work together perfectly.

全員の協力でスムーズに歯車が噛み合った。

Business
"スムーズに懐に入る"

— To smoothly win someone over (get into their inner circle).

彼はスムーズに相手の懐に入るのが上手い。

Informal
"スムーズに幕を閉じる"

— To end smoothly (like a play's curtain closing).

長い歴史がスムーズに幕を閉じた。

Formal
"スムーズに舵を切る"

— To smoothly change direction (like steering a ship).

会社の方針をスムーズに舵を切った。

Business
"スムーズに道筋をつける"

— To smoothly pave the way for something.

将来のためにスムーズに道筋をつける。

Neutral
"スムーズに一皮むける"

— To smoothly transition to a new, better version of oneself.

苦労を経て、スムーズに一皮むけたようだ。

Casual

Famille de mots

Noms

スムーズ (Smoothness)

Verbes

スムーズにする (To make smooth / To facilitate)

Adjectifs

スムーズな (Smooth - na-adjective)

Apparenté

フロー (Flow)
効率 (Efficiency)
進行 (Progression)
円滑 (Smoothness - formal)
潤滑油 (Lubricant - metaphorical for a person who helps things go smoothly)
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