Japanese word

汚れる

Pronunciation

Romajiyogoreru

Meaning

  • verbget dirty

Example

靴が汚れます。kutsu ga yogo re ma su

My shoes get dirty.

Illustration for 汚れる (get dirty)

More examples

絵を描くと、指が汚れます。e o ega ku to yubi ga yogo re ma su

Your fingers get dirty when you draw.

Core concept

Shows an object or surface changing from a clean condition to a dirty condition.

Common phrases

  • 手が汚れるte ga yogo re ru

    hands get dirty

  • 服が汚れるfuku ga yogo re ru

    clothes get dirty

  • 泥で汚れるdoro de yogo re ru

    get dirty from mud

Similar words

汚すyogosu: To cause dirt to get onto an object or surface.

Definition in Japanese

物や場所が汚れの付着によって、清潔な状態でなくなる。mono ya ba sho ga yogo re no fu chaku ni yo tte sei ketsu na jō tai de na ku na ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 汚れる (yogoreru, "to become dirty") developed from the older verb 汚る (yogoru, "to become dirty"), which expresses the same change of condition.

Usage tips

  • A spilled drink can make a table dirty, but the table itself is the subject of 汚れる (yogoreru) when the sentence focuses on the resulting condition.

Related words

Word lists with this word