Japanese word

湿る

Pronunciation

Romajishimeru

Meaning

  • verbbecome damp

Example

空気が湿ります。kū ki ga shime ri ma su

The air becomes damp.

Illustration for 湿る (become damp)

More examples

霧の中を歩くと、髪まで湿ります。kiri no naka o aru ku to kami ma de shime ri ma su

When you walk through the fog, even your hair becomes damp.

Core concept

Describes moisture entering something and changing it from a dry state to a damp one.

Common phrases

  • 湿った空気shime tta kū ki

    damp air

  • 湿った地面shime tta ji men

    damp ground

  • 湿った衣服shime tta i fuku

    damp clothes

Similar words

湿気るshikeru: To become damp after absorbing moisture, especially from the surrounding air.
濡れるnureru: To become wet through contact with water or another liquid.

Definition in Japanese

乾いた物や空気などに水分が行き渡り、乾燥した状態でなくなる。kawa i ta mono ya kū ki na do ni sui bun ga i ki wata ri kan sō shi ta jō tai de na ku na ru

Word origin

湿る (shimeru, "to become damp") is a native Japanese verb related to 湿す (shimesu, "to dampen"); the two forms express becoming damp and causing dampness, respectively.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese weather descriptions, 湿る (shimeru) can describe air or soil becoming damp, not just an object getting wet from direct contact with water.

Other meanings

  • become moistverb
  • get wetverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 湿り気shimerikedampnessnoun
  • 湿っぽいshimeppoidampi-adjective
  • 湿らせるshimeraserumoistenverb

Word lists with this word