澄すます

す

ま

す

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

clear; make clear; clarify

Transitive use for making liquid, the mind, or a state clear, pure, or free of muddiness. Often feels more literary or careful than everyday verbs such as きれいにする.

あくを取とり除のぞいてスープを澄すます。
Remove the scum to clarify the soup.
雑ざつ念ねんを

払はら

い

、

心こころ

を

澄す

ます

。

Clear your mind of distracting thoughts.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

look unconcerned; remain unruffled; feign indifference

Used for acting calm or unconcerned, sometimes deliberately, despite something that might normally cause embarrassment or reaction. Common in expressions like 澄ました顔をする.

彼かれはミスを指し摘てきされても、澄すました顔かおをしていた。
Even when his mistake was pointed out, he looked unconcerned.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

look prim; look demure; put on airs

Describes a composed, prim, or slightly affected manner. Depending on context it can sound cute, restrained, aloof, or critical.

子こどもが新あたらしい服ふくを着きて、澄すまして座すわっている。
The child is sitting there primly in new clothes.
彼かれはいつも澄すましていて、少すこし話はなしかけにくい。
He always puts on an aloof air, so he is a little hard to approach.

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

strain one's ears; listen carefully

Usually appears in the fixed expression 耳を澄ます, meaning to listen attentively, especially for a faint or distant sound.

See also: 耳を澄ます (みみをすます)

森もりの中なかで耳みみを澄すますと、小お川がわの音おとが聞きこえた。
When I strained my ears in the forest, I could hear the sound of a stream.

Written forms

澄すますUsage35%
Standard spelling for the literal sense of making something clear, and for idioms such as 耳を澄ます and 澄ました顔.
すますUsage65%
清すますUsage<1%
Uncommon variant spelling, most natural for the literal idea of making something clear or pure; 澄ます is the safer general spelling.

Kanji

澄lucidity, be clear, clear
清pure, purify, cleanse

Similar words

澄すむ
Intransitive counterpart meaning that something is clear or becomes clear; 澄ます means to make something clear or to deliberately assume a composed manner.
気き取どる
More directly means to put on airs or act affected; 澄ます can be milder and also has unrelated literal and listening senses.
耳みみを傾かたむける
Also means to listen attentively, often to someone's words or opinions; 耳を澄ます emphasizes quiet, concentrated listening for a sound.

Etymology

A native Japanese verb related to 澄む, with -す functioning as a transitive or causative-forming element. The kanji 澄 and 清 are both associated with clarity or purity, but 澄ます is the standard modern spelling.