Japanese word

擦れる

Pronunciation

Romajisureru

Meaning

  • verbrub

Example

靴でかかとが擦れます。kutsu de ka ka to ga su re ma su

My shoe rubs against my heel.

Illustration for 擦れる (rub)

More examples

長く歩くと、靴下で足の指が擦れます。naga ku aru ku to kutsu shita de ashi no yubi ga su re ma su

My toes chafe against my socks when I walk for a long time.

Core concept

Expresses the friction that occurs when two surfaces pass repeatedly against each other.

Common phrases

  • 肌が擦れるhada ga su re ru

    skin chafes

  • 靴で擦れるkutsu de su re ru

    chafe against shoes

Similar words

滑るsuberu: To move smoothly across a surface with little friction.
擦るsuru: To move one object or body part back and forth against another surface.

Definition in Japanese

物が他の物に触れたまま動き、表面に摩擦が生じる。mono ga hoka no mono ni fu re ta ma ma ugo ki hyō men ni ma satsu ga shō ji ru

Word origin

The native verb 擦れる (sureru) comes from 擦る (suru, "to rub") and describes the resulting rubbing action between surfaces.

Usage tips

  • In descriptions of shoes and skin, 擦れる (sureru) refers to friction from contact, whereas 滑る (suberu) refers to movement across a surface without this focus on rubbing.

Other meanings

  • chafeverb

Related words

  • 擦れsurewearnoun

Word lists with this word