白しらむ

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

whiten; grow light; turn white

Describes something becoming white or pale, or the sky growing light at dawn. Common in phrases like 空が白む (the sky lightens) or 顔が白む (face turns pale).

• 東ひがしの空そらが白しらみ始はじめた。

  The eastern sky began to grow light.

• 彼かれは恐きょう怖ふで顔かおが白しらんだ。

  His face turned white with fear.

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

cool down; dampen; spoil

Used for moods, enthusiasm, or atmosphere becoming chilled or spoiled. Often appears as 興が白む or 気持ちが白む.

• 彼かれの一ひと言ことで場ばの雰ふん囲い気きが白しらんだ。

  His single remark dampened the mood of the gathering.

• 雨あめでせっかくのピクニックが白しらんでしまった。

  The rain spoiled our long-awaited picnic.

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

decline; weaken; falter; fade

Archaic senses covering various kinds of weakening: physical debilitation, loss of momentum or spirit, fading color, or loss of musical tone. Not used in modern Japanese outside of historical or literary contexts.

• 古こ文ぶんでは「勢いきおいが白しらむ」のように衰おとろえを表あらわすことがある。

  In classical texts, 白む can express a decline in vigor, as in 'momentum falters'.