How to say "sink" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 沈むしずむgodan verb, intransitive verbThe basic verb for something sinking or going under — in water or downward generally. Use it when the subject sinks of its own motion, rather than being sunk by someone.
- nounThe loanword noun for the fixture itself — the basin with a tap in a kitchen. Use it when you mean the object, never for the act of sinking.
- 沈めるしずめるichidan verb, transitive verbThe transitive partner of 沈む: to sink something, the classic example being a ship. Use it when an agent sends something down or under, rather than the thing sinking by itself.彼らは敵の船を１０せき沈めた。↗They sank ten enemy ships.
- 流しながしnounThe native noun for a sink, especially in a kitchen — where you wash dishes or prepare food. Like シンク, it names the fixture, not the act of sinking.
- 引っ込むひっこむgodan verb, intransitive verbSeldom the word you want for sinking: it really means to draw back, recede, or cave in — a sense of sinking inward or retracting, not of going under water. Use 沈む for that.
For something going under water use intransitive 「沈む」, or transitive 「沈める」 when an agent sinks it; for the kitchen fixture use noun 「流し」 or loanword 「シンク」; 「引っ込む」 covers only receding or caving in.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 沈むしずむto sink
- シンクsink
- 沈めるしずめるto sink (e.g. a ship)
- 流しながしsink (e.g. in a kitchen)
- 引っ込むひっこむto draw back
- 流し台ながしだいsink
- さがるto come down
- 凹むへこむto be dented
- めり込むめりこむto sink (into)
- 窪むくぼむto cave in
- 溜めためcesspool
- 沈み込むしずみこむto sink (into)
- 没するぼっするto sink
- 流し元ながしもとsink
- 身を沈めるみをしずめるto sink (into one's seat, etc.)
- 吸い込み口すいこみぐちinlet
- 手洗い台てあらいだいwash stand
- 手洗い器てあらいきwashbasin
- 堕ちるおちるto decline (of morals, character, etc.)
- 入るいるto set (of the sun or moon)
- 落ちるおちるto set (of the sun or moon)
- 傾くかたむくto go down (sun, moon)
- 傾ぐかしぐto go down (sun)
See also
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