Translation guide
The state of being completely wet or the act of making something very wet. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through verbs, adjectives, and mimetic words depending on the context.
Describing a person or object that is thoroughly wet, often from rain or water.
A noun/adjective meaning 'soaking wet' or 'drenched'. Commonly used for people or clothes.
I got soaking wet from the rain.
My clothes are soaking wet.
Similar to ずぶ濡れ, but often implies a slightly less intense wetness or a more splashed state. Can be used for people or objects.
I'm soaking wet with sweat.
A mimetic adverb meaning 'soaking wet' or 'thoroughly soaked'. Often used with 濡れる (to get wet).
The towel is soaking wet.
The act of immersing something in water or another liquid for a period of time.
Transitive verb meaning 'to soak' or 'to immerse'. Used when you put something into a liquid.
Soak the beans in water overnight.
Transitive verb meaning 'to soak' or 'to pickle'. Often used for food items being soaked in a seasoned liquid.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be soaked' or 'to be immersed'. Describes the state of something sitting in liquid.
Absorbing a liquid, like a sponge or cloth.
Relaxing by immersing oneself in a bathtub or hot spring.
Both mean 'soaking wet', but ずぶ濡れ implies being drenched completely (e.g., from heavy rain), while びしょ濡れ can be used for being wet from splashes or sweat. ずぶ濡れ is often more intense.
浸す is general 'soak in liquid', while 漬ける often implies soaking in a seasoned liquid for flavor (pickling). Using 漬ける for just water can sound odd unless it's part of a cooking process.
きゅうりを塩水に漬ける。
Soak cucumbers in salt water.
The laundry is soaking in water.