Japanese word

縮まる

Pronunciation

Romajichijimaru

Meaning

  • verbshrink

Example

セーターを洗うと、縮まります。sē tā o ara u to chiji ma ri ma su

The sweater shrinks when I wash it.

Illustration for 縮まる (shrink)

More examples

このシャツは乾燥機に入れると縮まります。ko no sha tsu wa kan sō ki ni i re ru to chiji ma ri ma su

This shirt shrinks in the dryer.

Core concept

Shows something losing some of its former extent in size, length, width, or volume.

Common phrases

  • 服が縮まるfuku ga chiji ma ru

    clothes shrink

  • 布が縮まるnuno ga chiji ma ru

    fabric shrinks

  • 洗濯で縮まるsen taku de chiji ma ru

    shrink in the wash

Similar words

縮むchijimu: To become smaller or shorter as a physical object or material contracts.
収縮するshūshukusuru: To decrease in size or volume through physical contraction.
狭まるsebamaru: To become narrower in distance, range, or difference.

Definition in Japanese

物の大きさ、長さ、幅などが、前より小さくなる。mono no ō ki sa naga sa haba na do ga mae yo ri chii sa ku na ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 縮まる (chijimaru) is the intransitive member of the word family related to 縮む (chijimu, "to shrink"), marking a change that happens to the thing itself.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 縮まる (chijimaru) can refer to an abstract difference becoming smaller, such as a gap in ability, knowledge, or opinion.

Other meanings

  • narrowverb
  • shortenverb
  • closeverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word