Japanese word

引き締める

Pronunciation

Romajihikishimeru

Meaning

  • verbtighten

Example

ベルトを引き締めます。be ru to o hi ki shi me ma su

I tighten my belt.

Illustration for 引き締める (tighten)

More examples

長時間の運動で、体を引き締めました。chō ji kan no un dō de karada o hi ki shi me ma shi ta

I toned my body through long hours of exercise.

Core concept

Expresses the act of removing slack so that something becomes firm, secure, or taut.

Common phrases

  • ベルトを引き締めるbe ru to o hi ki shi me ru

    tighten one's belt

  • 気を引き締めるki o hi ki shi me ru

    brace oneself

  • 身を引き締めるmi o hi ki shi me ru

    pull oneself together

Similar words

締めるshimeru: To make something tighter or fasten it securely, often with a belt, cord, or similar item.
締め付けるshimetsukeru: To press or tighten something firmly around a person or object.
張るharu: To stretch something so that it becomes taut across a space.

Definition in Japanese

物などを強く締めて、緩みのない状態にする。mono na do o tsuyo ku shi me te yuru mi no na i jō tai ni su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 引き締める (hikishimeru, "tighten") combines 引き (hiki, "pulling"), the stem of 引く (hiku, "pull"), with 締める (shimeru, "tighten").

Usage tips

  • In English, 'tighten one's belt' commonly refers to reducing spending, but 引き締める (hikishimeru) also has the direct physical sense of making a belt tighter.

Other meanings

  • braceverb
  • toneverb
  • stiffenverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 引き締めhikishimetighteningnoun

Word lists with this word