Japanese Conversation · Level 36
90 words
Japanese word
沈む
Pronunciation
Romajishizumu
Meaning
- verbsink
Example
船が海に沈みます。fune ga umi ni shizu mi ma su
The boat sinks into the sea.
More examples
大きな石が川の底に沈みました。ō ki na ishi ga kawa no soko ni shizu mi ma shi ta
A large stone sank to the bottom of the river.
Core concept
Expresses a downward movement that ends below a surface or outside the range of sight, as with a boat or the setting sun.
Common phrases
海に沈むumi ni shizu mu
sink into the sea
水に沈むmizu ni shizu mu
sink into water
底に沈むsoko ni shizu mu
sink to the bottom
Similar words
沈没するchinbotsusuru: To sink fully beneath the water, especially when referring to a vessel.
Definition in Japanese
物や太陽などが下方へ移動し、水面や地平線などより下に隠れる。mono ya tai yō na do ga ka hō e i dō shi sui men ya chi hei sen na do yo ri shita ni kaku re ru
Word origin
The native Japanese verb 沈む (shizumu, "to sink") is recorded in Old Japanese as しづむ (shizumu, "to sink"), and the modern form preserves this inherited verb.
Usage tips
- In everyday Japanese, 気分が沈む (kibun ga shizumu, "to feel low") uses the verb for a person's spirits becoming less lively.