Translation guide
Describes how something becomes soft, wet, and unpleasantly soaked, often losing its original texture. Covers food, paper, ground, and metaphorical uses.
Describe food (like cereal, crackers, fried food) that absorbs moisture and becomes soft and unappetizing.
Common verb for food or other solids absorbing liquid and becoming soft and swollen, often with a negative nuance.
The cereal got soggy from the milk.
Onomatopoeic expression for something becoming wet and mushy, often used for food that has lost its texture.
The tempura batter got soggy.
Specifically for dry food like crackers or rice crackers that absorb moisture from the air and lose crispness.
The rice crackers have gone soggy.
Describe paper, cardboard, or cloth that gets soaked and loses stiffness.
Describe soil, ground, or a field that becomes soft and muddy from too much water.
Describe a person feeling emotionally or physically drained, limp, or lacking energy.
Describes being limp or exhausted, often from fatigue or heat. Not directly 'soggy' but captures the limp, drained feeling.
I'm feeling soggy from the heat.
Means to be completely exhausted, similar to feeling limp and drained.
I walked all day and became totally soggy.
ふやける is general for solids absorbing liquid and swelling (food, paper). しける is specific to dry foods losing crispness from humidity. Use ふやける for most cases.
Bread gets soggy (from liquid)
Rice crackers get soggy (from humidity)
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'soggy'. Choose the verb based on what is becoming soggy and how. Using ふやける for ground or emotions would be unnatural.
The magazine got soggy after being soaked in water.