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しみる Japanese meaning | Kotomora

しみる

し

み

る

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

soak into; permeate; seep through; penetrate

usually written using kana alone

Intransitive use for liquid, color, smell, cold, etc. entering or spreading through something. The thing entered is often marked with に or まで.

インクが紙かみにしみる。
The ink soaks into the paper.

雨あめ

が

靴くつ

下した

まで

しみ

て

き

た

。

The rain soaked through to my socks.

煙けむりのにおいが服ふくにしみた。

The smell of smoke permeated my clothes.

2

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

sting; smart; irritate; bite with cold

usually written using kana alone

Used when water, smoke, medicine, cold air, etc. causes a sharp sensation in a wound, eyes, skin, or another sensitive place. 沁みる is a common kanji choice for this nuance, but kana is very common.

傷きず口ぐちに水みずがしみる。
Water stings the wound.
玉たまねぎが目めにしみる。
The onion stings my eyes.
冷つめたい風かぜが頬ほほにしみる。
The cold wind bites into my cheeks.

3

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

be steeped in; be influenced by; be tainted by

usually written using kana alone

Metaphorical use for being permeated by an influence, especially a bad habit, vice, or prejudice. This use is much less common in modern everyday speech than 染まる or 染みつく.

古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは、「悪あくにしみる」のように、悪わるい影えい響きょうに染そまる意い味みで使つかわれることがある。
In older writing, expressions such as 悪にしみる can mean being tainted by evil influences.

4

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

feel keenly; sink into one's heart; make a deep impression; be deeply moved

usually written using kana alone

Emotional or mental use: words, music, kindness, hardship, or gratitude penetrates deeply and is strongly felt. Common in phrases such as 心にしみる, 胸にしみる, and 身にしみる.

彼かの女じょの言こと葉ばが胸むねにしみた。
Her words sank deep into my heart.
親おやのありがたさが身みにしみる。
I keenly feel how much I owe my parents.
静しずかな音おん楽がくが心こころにしみる。
The quiet music moves me deeply.

Written forms

しみるUsage59%
All senses are usually written in kana; this is the safest everyday spelling.
染しみるUsage24%
Common attested kanji spelling, especially natural for soaking in, permeating, or metaphorically sinking in; kana is still often preferred.
沁しみるUsage11%
Often chosen for stinging pain or for something that deeply affects the heart; this spelling for the stinging sense.
滲しみるUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare source kanji form. Prefer しみる or 染みる in ordinary writing.
浸しみるUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare source kanji form. It visually suggests soaking or being soaked through, but しみる is the normal practical spelling.
泌しみるUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Very rare source kanji form; included mainly for recognition in search or unusual texts.

Kanji

染dye, color, paint
沁penetrate, soak in
滲imbued with
浸

Similar words

染そまる
Focuses on becoming dyed, colored, or influenced as a resulting state; しみる focuses on something permeating, stinging, or being deeply felt.
染しみ込こむ
More explicitly describes something soaking or seeping into the inside of a material; しみる is broader and also covers pain and emotional impact.
滲にじむ
Describes ink, tears, blood, etc. blurring, oozing, or spreading outward; しみる often describes penetration inward or a sensation being felt.

Etymology

A native Japanese verb with several conventional kanji spellings chosen by nuance. The historical derivation is uncertain; 染みる is associated with dyeing or permeation, while 沁みる is often used for stinging or deeply felt sensations.

immersed, soak, dip

泌ooze, flow, soak in