Translation guide
The English word "wilt" refers to plants drooping or losing freshness, and metaphorically to people losing energy or enthusiasm. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these meanings, from common verbs to figurative phrases.
Describe when a plant, flower, or leaf becomes limp and weak, often due to lack of water or heat.
The most common and general verb for plants wilting. Used for flowers, leaves, and vegetables losing firmness.
The flowers have wilted.
If you don't water it, the houseplant will wilt.
Kanji form of しおれる, more common in written or literary contexts. Same meaning.
The vegetables wilted in the heat.
Describes plants (or people) becoming limp and lifeless. Often used when the wilting is severe or sudden.
The potted plant is wilting in the strong sunlight.
Means 'to wither and die' rather than just wilt. Use when the plant is beyond recovery.
しおれる is temporary wilting; 枯れる implies the plant has died.
The flowers withered and died from lack of water.
Describe when someone becomes tired, discouraged, or loses their spirit, similar to a wilting plant.
Metaphorically extends the plant meaning to people. Often used when someone looks dejected or loses confidence.
He wilted after being scolded by his boss.
Literally 'lose energy', a straightforward and common way to say someone's spirits have dropped.
I wilted in the heat.
Describes looking downcast or dejected, often with a drooping posture. Very natural for a person wilting emotionally.
Used for physical exhaustion, like wilting from fatigue. Can also apply to emotional exhaustion.
I'm wilted after walking all day.
しおれる means 'wilt' (temporary loss of firmness), while 枯れる means 'wither and die' (permanent). Use しおれる for plants that can recover with water, and 枯れる for dead plants.
After watering, the wilted flowers perked up.
Withered flowers won't come back.
She's wilting after her heartbreak.
He wilted at the news of his failure.