How to say "fade" in Japanese

• 薄れるうすれるCommon
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbFading in the sense of growing dim or weak: memories, feelings, interest, or someone's presence fading over time. It suggests something gradually losing intensity or clarity.
  時ときがたつにつれ彼女かのじょの悲かなしみは薄うすれていった。↗

  She felt less sad as time passed.
• 褪せるあせるCommon
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbFading as color loss — discoloration: fabric, paint, or photographs growing paler and losing their vividness. When 'fade' refers to colors draining away, this is the natural choice.
  日光にっこうで看板かんばんの文字もじがあせた。↗

  The sun had faded the lettering on the sign.
• 薄らぐうすらぐCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbFading as gradual weakening: pain, anxiety, tension, or suspicion growing fainter over time. Close in feel to 薄れる, and its senses also include becoming thin and growing pale.
  時ときが経たつにつれて、悲かなしみは薄うすらぐ。↗

  As time goes on, grief fades away.
• しぼむJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbTo wither, wilt, or shrivel: flowers drooping, dreams collapsing. Its 'fade (away)' sense is this withering, deflating collapse, so for fading color or memories it is seldom the word you want.
  花はなは切きられるとすぐにしぼむ。↗

  Flowers soon fade when they have been cut.
• しおれるCommon
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbTo wither or wilt: flowers and plants drooping. Its 'fade' sense is this wilting one, so when 'fade' means color paling or a memory dimming, it is not the word you want.
  その植物しょくぶつは水みずがなかったのでしおれた。↗

  The plants withered because they had no water.

Use 「薄れる」 or 「薄らぐ」 when fading means growing dim or weak, 「褪せる」 when it means discoloration, and 「しぼむ」 or 「しおれる」 for the withering, wilting kind of 'fading away' of flowers, dreams, and the like.

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

• 薄れるうすれるto fade
• 褪せるあせるto fade
• 薄らぐうすらぐto become thin
• しぼむto wither (of flowers, dreams, etc.)
• しおれるto wither
• フェードfade
• 色褪せるいろあせるto fade (of a colour)
• 白茶けるしらちゃけるto fade
• さめるto fade
• 薄れ行くうすれゆくto fade
• しなびるto shrivel (e.g. cut vegetables, skin)
• すがれるto wither (esp. plants as winter draws near)
• 抜けるぬけるto fade
• 消えるきえるto fade (of a feeling, impression, etc.)
• 焼けるやけるto be sunburnt
• はげるto fade
• 冷めるさめるto cool off (excitement, temper, etc.)
• 移ろううつろうto fade
• しらけるto turn white
• 落ちるおちるto come off (of dirt, paint, makeup, etc.)
• 引くひくto recede
• 飛ぶとぶto disappear