How to say "absorb" in Japanese

• 吸い取るすいとるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers absorbing or soaking something up, often drawing a liquid out of or off a surface; it can also mean squeezing money out of someone. A typical context is a cloth absorbing spilled water.
  この吸い取すいとり紙しはインクをよく吸い取すいとる。↗

  This blotting paper absorbs ink well.
• 吸い込むすいこむCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers inhaling, breathing in, or sucking and soaking something in. It suits taking air, breath, or a liquid into the mouth, nose, or an opening, such as breathing in fresh air.
  スポンジは水みずを吸い込すいこむ。↗

  A sponge absorbs water.
• 吸い上げるすいあげるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers sucking or pumping something up from below, drawing it upward, and by extension absorbing or drawing off resources. A typical context is a pump drawing water up from a well.
  インキ補充ほじゅう瓶びんのキャップを外はずし、スポイトでインキを吸い上すいあげ、マーカーの吸収きゅうしゅう体たいへ適量てきりょう、滴下てきかしてください。↗

  Remove the cap from the ink refill bottle, fill the dropper with ink, and drip an appropriate amount onto the marker's core.
• 奪ううばうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbOnly marginally a way to say 'absorb': it covers just the figurative sense of absorbing or captivating someone's attention, as when a performance rivets an audience. For literal absorption it is not the word you want.

Use 「吸い取る」, 「吸い込む」, or 「吸い上げる」 for literal taking in of liquids or things, differing in direction and manner, and 「奪う」 only for figuratively absorbing someone's attention.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 吸い取るすいとるto suck up
• 吸い込むすいこむto inhale
• 吸い上げるすいあげるto suck up
• 吸うすうto absorb
• 奪ううばうto absorb (one's attention)
• 消すけすto drown out (a sound)
• 揚げるあげるto suck up (water; e.g. a plant)