Japanese word

絞り

Pronunciation

Romajishibori

Meaning

  • nountie-dye

Example

絞りは日本の伝統的な染色技法です。shibo ri wa nihon no den tō teki na sen shoku gi hō de su

Tie-dye is a traditional Japanese dyeing technique.

Illustration for 絞り (tie-dye)

More examples

美術館で絞りの着物を間近で見ました。bi jutsu kan de shibo ri no ki mono o ma jika de mi ma shi ta

I saw a tie-dyed kimono up close at the museum.

Core concept

Describes dyeing cloth after gathering or securing parts of it, leaving contrasting patterns where the dye cannot spread evenly.

Common phrases

  • 絞りの技法shibo ri no gi hō

    tie-dye technique

  • 絞りを施すshibo ri o hodoko su

    apply tie-dye

  • 絞りの模様shibo ri no mo yō

    tie-dye pattern

Definition in Japanese

布の一部を折る、つまむ、縛るなどして染料を染み込ませない部分を作り、模様に染める技法。nuno no ichi bu o o ru tsu ma mu shiba ru na do shi te sen ryō o shi mi ko ma se na i bu bun o tsuku ri mo yō ni so me ru gi hō

Word origin

絞り (shibori, "wringing") is formed from the verb 絞る (shiboru, "to wring or squeeze"); the name reflects the compressed or tightened cloth used in the technique.

Usage tips

  • English textile writing often keeps 絞り (shibori) as a specific name for Japanese resist-dyeing, rather than treating every tie-dye pattern as the same technique.

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