Japanese word

薄れる

Pronunciation

Romajiusureru

Meaning

  • verbfade

Example

時間がたつと、記憶は薄れます。ji kan ga ta tsu to ki oku wa usu re ma su

As time passes, memories fade.

Illustration for 薄れる (fade)

More examples

長く日に当たると、布の色が薄れてきます。naga ku hi ni a ta ru to nuno no iro ga usu re te ki ma su

The color of the fabric fades after being exposed to sunlight for a long time.

Core concept

Describes something gradually losing strength, clarity, or vividness rather than disappearing all at once.

Common phrases

  • 記憶が薄れるki oku ga usu re ru

    memories fade

  • 色が薄れるiro ga usu re ru

    color fades

  • 印象が薄れるin shō ga usu re ru

    the impression fades

  • 関心が薄れるkan shin ga usu re ru

    interest wanes

  • 痛みが薄れるita mi ga usu re ru

    the pain subsides

Similar words

薄らぐusuragu: To become less intense or distinct while continuing to exist.
色褪せるiroaseru: To lose color, brightness, or vividness gradually over time.
弱まるyowamaru: To become less powerful, effective, intense, or influential.
ぼやけるboyakeru: To lose sharpness so that an outline, detail, or memory becomes unclear.

Definition in Japanese

時間の経過などによって、記憶や感情などの鮮明さや強さが次第に失われる。ji kan no kei ka na do ni yo tte ki oku ya kan jō na do no sen mei sa ya tsuyo sa ga shi dai ni ushina wa re ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 薄れる (usureru, "become faint") is formed from 薄い (usui, "thin or faint") with the verb-forming ending れる (reru).

Usage tips

  • Unlike English fade, the intransitive verb 薄れる (usureru) does not directly take the fading thing as its object, so 記憶が薄れる (kioku ga usureru) means that a memory fades.

Other meanings

  • weakenverb
  • become faintverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word