染
dye, color, paint, stain, print
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- そ.める
- そ.まる
- し.みる
- し.み
Nanori
- そめ
Meaning
染 centers on applying color to something so it soaks in: dyeing fabric, painting a surface, staining an object, or printing with ink. The idea is always about color penetrating and changing the material.
Most common words using 染
20 of 284- 感染かんせんN2
infection; contagion; becoming infected
- 汚染おせんN3
pollution; contamination
- 染みしみN3
stain; spot; smudge; blot; smear; blotch
- 染めそめ
dyeing; printing
- 馴染みなじみ
familiarity; intimacy; acquaintance
- 染まるそまるN1
to be dyed
- お馴染みおなじみ
familiar; well-known; regular (e.g. customer); favourite; favorite
- 染色せんしょくN1
dyeing
- 伝染でんせんN2
contagion; infection
- 馴染むなじむN2
to become familiar with; to get used to; to become accustomed to; to adapt oneself to; to become attached to; to become friendly with
- 染めるそめるN2
to dye; to colour; to color
- 染みるしみるN2
to soak (into); to permeate; to seep (in); to penetrate; to pierce
- 染料せんりょう
dye; dyestuff; coloring agent
- 染井吉野そめいよしの
Yoshino cherry (Prunus yedoensis)
- 愛染あいぜん
being drawn to something one loves; amorous passion
- 藍染めあいぞめ
indigo dye
- 染織せんしょく
dyeing and weaving
- 血染めちぞめ
bloodstained
- 白髪染めしらがぞめ
hair dye (for graying hair)
- 染み渡るしみわたる
to penetrate; to pervade; to spread
Study
Etymology
染 combines 氵 (water) with 木 (tree) and 九, suggesting the process of dyeing cloth using water and plant-based dyes. The exact role of 九 is uncertain, but it may have contributed a phonetic element.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 氿 looks like water 氵 and a number nine 九, and below is a tree 木. Imagine dipping cloth into a vat of water mixed with dye from nine different trees, soaking it until the color stains deeply.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, picture a dyeing master carefully counting sen (千, one thousand) drops of color into the water, making sure the shade is perfect: 千 -> セン, and the dye soaks into the cloth.