しみる · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | しみる | しみない |
| Polite | しみます | しみません |
| Past polite | しみました | しみませんでした |
| Past | しみた | しみなかった |
| Te-form | しみて | しみないで |
| Desire | しみたい | しみたくない |
| Potential | しみられるalso しみれる | しみられないalso しみれない |
| Passive | しみられる | しみられない |
| Causative | しみさせる | しみさせない |
| Causative passive | しみさせられる | しみさせられない |
| Volitional | しみよう | |
| Polite volitional | しみましょう | |
| Imperative | しみろ | しみるな |
| Conditional | しみれば | しみなければ |
| Tara conditional | しみたら | しみなかったら |
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
soak into; permeate; seep through; penetrate
Intransitive use for liquid, color, smell, cold, etc. entering or spreading through something. The thing entered is often marked with に or まで.
インクが紙にしみる。
The ink soaks into the paper.
The rain soaked through to my socks.
The smell of smoke permeated my clothes.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
sting; smart; irritate; bite with cold
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.
Water stings the wound.
The onion stings my eyes.
The cold wind bites into my cheeks.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
be steeped in; be influenced by; be tainted by
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.
In older writing, expressions such as 悪にしみる can mean being tainted by evil influences.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
feel keenly; sink into one's heart; make a deep impression; be deeply moved
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.
Her words sank deep into my heart.
I keenly feel how much I owe my parents.
The quiet music moves me deeply.
Rainwater has seeped into the wall.
Cutting onions makes your eyes sting.
His words sank deep into my heart.
The disinfectant stung the wound painfully.
I felt her kindness deeply.
滲む describes ink, tears, or blood blurring or oozing outward, while 染みる often describes something penetrating inward or a sensation being felt.
浸みる is the everyday verb for a liquid soaking into or staining something, while 浸透 is the more formal noun describing the same process of permeation.
染みる alone simply means 'to soak in' or 'to stain,' while 身にしみる is the fixed idiom meaning to be deeply affected emotionally or physically.
染みる means for liquid to soak into something (moving inward), while にじみ出る means for liquid or feeling to seep outward and become visible on the surface.
染まる means to take on a color throughout (be dyed), while 染みる means for liquid or a smell to soak into or seep through something, or to sting; the two share the kanji 染 but describe different processes.
Rare source kanji form. Prefer しみる or 染みる in ordinary writing.
Rare source kanji form. It visually suggests soaking or being soaked through, but しみる is the normal practical spelling.
Very rare source kanji form; included mainly for recognition in search or unusual texts.
stain removal
become sweat-stained; get sweat stains
become greasy; get oil-stained
soak through; permeate · be deeply impressed; sink in emotionally