しわ

し

わ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

A line or fold in skin, cloth, paper, or a similar surface. Common in phrases such as しわができる, しわが寄る, and しわを伸ばす.

ripple; fine surface wrinkle

usually written using kana alone

An extended descriptive use for small wrinkle-like ripples on a surface, especially water; less central than the skin or cloth sense.

〈物もの〉にしわができるwrinkles/creases form on something
このシャツにしわができてしまった。
Wrinkles have formed on this shirt.
しわが寄よるwrinkles gather or form (on skin, cloth, etc.)
笑わらうと目めの周まわりにしわが寄よる。
Wrinkles gather around my eyes when I laugh.
しわを取とるto remove wrinkles
アイロンでしわを取とった。
I removed the wrinkles with an iron.
しわを刻きざむfor wrinkles to be etched (into a face, etc.), often used figuratively
長なが年ねんの苦く労ろうが顔かおにしわを刻きざんでいる。
Years of hardship have etched wrinkles into his face.

ひだ sense 1
ひだ is a fold, pleat, or natural ridge, while しわ specifically describes thin, often irregular wrinkle or crease lines.
さざ波なみ sense 2
さざ波 is the ordinary word for small ripples on water, while しわ is used more descriptively to compare fine ripples to wrinkles.
折おり目め sense 1
折り目 is a deliberate, clean fold line (as in pressed paper or fabric), whereas しわ can be accidental, irregular, or caused by age.
癖くせN3
皺 specifically means a wrinkle in skin, paper, or cloth, while 癖 in this sense covers any crease, curl, or kink, including in hair or wire.
よれ
しわ is the general word for any wrinkle or crease (skin, fabric, paper), while よれ specifically describes a crumpled or worn-out crease that develops from handling or age.

たるみN1
しわ refers to wrinkles or creases in skin or cloth, whereas 弛み refers to sagging or drooping slackness rather than fine lines.

Show 2 more

しわUsage40%
It is usually written in kana; this is the safest everyday spelling.
皺しわUsage36%
Standard kanji spelling and high-priority form, but everyday writing often uses kana.
シワUsage24%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling; often useful in advertising, cosmetics, headings, or for visual emphasis.
皴しわUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; useful mainly for recognition.

The historical derivation is uncertain here. The kanji 皺 is conventionally used for wrinkles or creases, but the word is commonly written in kana.