しんみり

し

ん

み

り

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

quietly; softly; intimately; heart-to-heart

Describes a calm, gentle, and emotionally close atmosphere or manner of speaking, often in private or reflective moments.

夜よる遅おそく、友とも達だちとしんみり話はなした。
Late at night, I talked quietly and intimately with a friend.

彼かの

女じょ

は

しんみり

と

し

た

声こえ

で

思おも

い

出で

を

語かた

っ

た

。

She spoke of her memories in a soft, heartfelt voice.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

solemnly; sadly

Used when a situation or mood becomes subdued, melancholic, or quietly emotional, often tinged with sadness.

葬そう式しきの後あと、みんなしんみりしていた。
After the funeral, everyone was quiet and solemn.
その話はなしを聞きいて、場ばがしんみりとなった。
Upon hearing that story, the atmosphere turned somber.

Written forms

しんみりUsage100%
Standard hiragana spelling; no kanji form exists.
シンミリ
Katakana variant, sometimes used for stylistic emphasis.

Similar words

しっとり
しっとり describes a moist, soft, or gentle texture or atmosphere, often with a sense of elegance, while しんみり focuses on emotional quietness or intimacy.
ひっそり
ひっそり emphasizes physical silence and lack of activity, whereas しんみり implies a subdued emotional mood.

Etymology

The word is a mimetic adverb (擬態語) whose exact origin is uncertain. It likely derives from the sound-symbolic element しん, which often conveys quietness or stillness in Japanese.