Translation guide
The English verb 'hydrate' can refer to providing water or moisture to something, or to the chemical process of combining with water. This guide focuses on the everyday meaning of adding water to a person, body, or substance, and the chemical sense.
Expressing the action of drinking water or ensuring the body has enough water.
The most common and natural way to say 'to hydrate' in the sense of drinking water or taking in fluids. Literally 'to take moisture/water'.
Please hydrate frequently on hot days.
Let's hydrate properly during exercise.
A slightly more formal or technical phrase meaning 'to replenish fluids'. Often used in medical, sports, or instructional contexts.
To prevent dehydration, please hydrate regularly.
Simply 'to drink water'. This is the most direct and casual way to express hydrating by drinking water, but it only refers to water, not other fluids.
I'm thirsty, so let's hydrate (drink water).
Expressing the action of adding water to a substance, such as food, soil, or skin, to make it moist or restore its water content.
Transitive verb meaning 'to moisten' or 'to dampen'. Used for adding moisture to things like cloth, soil, or food.
Hydrate the dry soil before sowing seeds.
I moistened a towel and wiped my face.
Literally 'to give moisture'. A more general phrase that can be used for plants, skin, or other things that need water.
Used specifically for rehydrating dried foods like wakame or shiitake by soaking in water. Often used as 水で戻す.
Referring to the chemical process where a substance combines with water molecules.
The English loanword ハイドレート is rarely used in Japanese outside of very specific technical or product contexts (e.g., 'hydrate' in chemistry or some cosmetic product names). For everyday hydration, use the Japanese phrases above.
I use a lotion that hydrates the skin.
乾燥わかめを水で戻してから料理に使います。
Rehydrate dried wakame in water before using it in cooking.
This compound combines with water to form a hydrate.