Japanese word

引き締まる

Pronunciation

Romajihikishimaru

毎日運動すると体が引き締まります。mai nichi un dō su ru to karada ga hi ki shi ma ri ma su

Your body becomes firm when you exercise every day.

目標を紙に書くと、気持ちが引き締まります。moku hyō o kami ni ka ku to ki mo chi ga hi ki shi ma ri ma su

Writing down my goal makes me feel more determined.

Describes something losing looseness and drawing together until it feels firm or taut.

緊張するkinchōsuru: To become nervous or mentally strained because of pressure or the seriousness of a situation.

体や形などがゆるみをなくして、しっかりした状態になる。karada ya katachi na do ga yu ru mi o na ku shi te shi kka ri shi ta jō tai ni na ru

The verb 引き締まる (hikishimaru) combines 引く (hiku, "pull") and 締まる (shimaru, "become tight"), giving the literal sense of becoming pulled tight.

In everyday Japanese, 引き締まる (hikishimaru) often describes a body or shape becoming toned, whereas 緊張する (kinchō suru) describes nervous tension.