Japanese word

染める

Pronunciation

Romajisomeru

Meaning

  • verbdye

Example

職人は布を染めます。shoku nin wa nuno o so me ma su

The craftsman dyes cloth.

Illustration for 染める (dye)

More examples

母は自分で髪を染めています。haha wa ji bun de kami o so me te i ma su

My mother dyes her hair herself.

Core concept

Describes putting color into a material so that the color becomes part of its surface or fibers.

Common phrases

  • 髪を染めるkami o so me ru

    dye one's hair

  • 布を染めるnuno o so me ru

    dye cloth

  • 白髪を染めるhaku hatsu o so me ru

    dye gray hair

Similar words

染色するsenshokusuru: To color fibers or another material with dye, especially as a formal or technical process.
着色するchakushokusuru: To add color to a material with a coloring agent, pigment, or other substance.
染め上げるsomeageru: To dye a material fully and produce its finished color.

Definition in Japanese

布や髪などに染料をしみ込ませて色をつける。nuno ya kami na do ni sen ryō o shi mi ko ma se te iro o tsu ke ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 染める (someru, "to dye") is related to 染む (shimu, "to soak in or become dyed"); its transitive form means causing something else to take color.

Usage tips

  • Beyond physical dyeing, 染める (someru) also describes filling a scene with color, as in 夕日が空を赤く染める (yūhi ga sora o akaku someru).

Other meanings

  • colorverb

Opposites

  • 脱色するdasshokusurubleachverb

Related words

  • 染め物somemonodyed goodsnoun
  • 染め方somekataway of dyeingnoun

Word lists with this word