薄める (うすめる, usumeru) Japanese meaning: dilute | Kotomora

薄うすめる

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す

め

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Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

薄める · ichidan verb

Meanings

ichidan verb, transitive verb

dilute; water down; thin; lighten

Used for reducing the concentration of liquids, colors, flavors, or other tangible qualities by adding something else.

薄うすまるN2sense 1
薄める is the transitive verb meaning 'to dilute something', while 薄まる is its intransitive partner meaning 'to become diluted'.

希き釈しゃく sense 1
希釈する is a more technical, chemistry-flavored word for diluting a solution, while 薄める is the everyday word used in cooking and daily life.
弱よわめるN2sense 2
弱める means to weaken something's intensity in general (light, sound, effect), whereas 薄める specifically frames the weakening as a dilution or lessening of concentration.
和やわらげるN1sense 2
和らげる focuses on softening pain, tension, or harshness, while 薄める extends the idea of dilution metaphorically to tone down statements or impressions.
水みず増ましN1
薄める is the neutral, general verb for diluting any liquid, while 水増し specifically implies adding water to increase volume, often to cheat someone.
割わるN4
薄める is the general verb for diluting or weakening concentration, while 割る is especially used for mixing drinks with water, soda, or hot water.

濃のう縮しゅくN1sense 1
濃縮する means to concentrate a liquid by removing water, the direct opposite of 薄める, which dilutes it by adding water.
強つよめるN2sense 2
強める means to intensify or strengthen something, the opposite of 薄める used in the sense of toning down or softening an effect.

薄うすめ
薄め is a noun/adjectival noun meaning 'on the thin side', while 薄める is the transitive verb meaning 'to dilute' something, and learners often mix up their forms.

Derived from the adjective 薄い (うすい, 'thin, weak') with the verbalizing suffix める, which forms transitive verbs meaning 'to make something ~'.