しとしと

し

と

し

と

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

しとしとする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

gently raining; drizzling

Describes soft, quiet, persistent rain. Often used with 降る or in the form しとしとと.

Describes a surface or atmosphere that is slightly wet, often with a soft, lingering quality. Less common than the rain sense.

雨あめがしとしと降ふるfor rain to drizzle softly
朝あさから雨あめがしとしと降ふっている。
It has been drizzling gently since morning.
〈物もの〉がしとしと濡ぬれるfor something to be softly, lingeringly damp
庭にわの苔こけがしとしと濡ぬれていた。
The moss in the garden was damp and glistening.
しとしとと降ふり続つづくto keep drizzling steadily
梅雨つゆの間あいだ、雨あめがしとしとと降ふり続つづいた。
During the rainy season, it kept drizzling steadily.

じめじめN2sense 2
じめじめ describes an unpleasant, sticky dampness or humidity, while しとしと can describe a gentler, quieter wetness, often of rain.
ぱらぱらN1
しとしと describes a soft, continuous drizzle, whereas ぱらぱら describes intermittent, scattered drops.

ザーザーN1sense 1
ざあざあ describes heavy, pouring rain with a loud sound, whereas しとしと describes soft, quiet drizzle.

じとじと sense 2
じとじと sounds similar to しとしと but describes sticky, clinging wetness rather than the soft drizzle or gentle dampness that しとしと conveys.
ポツリポツリN1
ポツリポツリ describes rain falling in a few scattered, separate drops, whereas しとしと describes a steady, quiet drizzle falling continuously.
びしょびしょN2
しとしと describes a gentle, quiet drizzle, while びしょびしょ (sense 2) describes a heavier, incessant, drenching rain.
しっとりN2
しとしと describes the light, steady sound or falling of rain, while しっとり describes the resulting moist state or a calm, gentle quality, not the rain itself.

Onomatopoeic word mimicking the sound and feeling of soft, persistent rain or gentle moisture. The exact origin is uncertain.