JLPT · Level 166
15 words
Japanese word
潤う
Pronunciation
Romajiuruou
Meaning
- verbbe moistened
Example
乾いた土が雨で潤います。kawa i ta tsuchi ga ame de uruo i ma su
Dry soil is moistened by rain.
More examples
雨の少ない地域では、ダムの水が増えると人々の生活が潤います。ame no suku na i chi iki de wa da mu no mizu ga fu e ru to hito bito no sei katsu ga uruo i ma su
In regions with little rain, people's lives improve when the water level in a dam rises.
Core concept
An initially dry or deprived condition improves when needed moisture or resources flow into it.
Common phrases
雨で潤うame de uruo u
be moistened by rain
生活が潤うsei katsu ga uruo u
be enriched
心が潤うkokoro ga uruo u
feel enriched
Similar words
湿るshimeru: To become damp as water or other needed moisture enters it.
濡れるnureru: To become wet when water or another liquid covers or enters something.
Definition in Japanese
乾いたものが水分を得てしっとりした状態になり、転じて生活などが豊かになる。kawa i ta mo no ga sui bun o e te shi tto ri shi ta jō tai ni na ri ten ji te sei katsu na do ga yuta ka ni na ru
Word origin
The native verb 潤う (uruō) developed from the older form うるほふ (uruhofu), while 潤 (jun, "moist" and "rich") was chosen to write meanings associated with the word.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, 潤う (uruō) is intransitive, so it describes soil or finances as gaining something rather than an agent supplying it.