Japanese word

きしむ

Pronunciation

Romajikishimu

Meaning

  • verbcreak

Example

床がきしみます。yuka ga ki shi mi ma su

The floor creaks.

Illustration for きしむ (creak)

More examples

古い扉を開けると、蝶番がきしみました。furu i tobira o a ke ru to chō tsugai ga ki shi mi ma shi ta

When I opened the old door, its hinges creaked.

Core concept

Centers on something pressed or moved against another surface and producing an unpleasant creaking sound.

Common phrases

  • ぎしぎしときしむgi shi gi shi to ki shi mu

    creak noisily

  • きしむ音ki shi mu oto

    creaking sound

Similar words

きしるkishiru: To produce a harsh sound as hard surfaces rub or scrape against each other.

Definition in Japanese

接した物が動くとき、摩擦によって不快な音を生じる。ses shi ta mono ga ugo ku to ki ma satsu ni yo tte fu kai na oto o shō ji ru

Word origin

The Japanese verb きしむ (kishimu) is linked to the mimetic expression きしきし (kishikishi, "a harsh rubbing sound"), with む (mu) used in the verb formation.

Usage tips

  • English uses creak figuratively for institutions that function with difficulty, as in a creaking bureaucracy.

Other meanings

  • grateverb
  • jarverb

Related words

  • きしみkishimicreaknoun

Word lists with this word