How to say "soak" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbDescribes a liquid soaking into something and permeating it, like water seeping into cloth. The liquid is what soaks in, rather than someone placing an object into liquid.
- 漬けるつけるichidan verb, transitive verbFor soaking or steeping something in a liquid — putting the item in and leaving it there, as when steeping food in a marinade. Also covers dipping or dunking something.
- 浸すひたすgodan verb, transitive verbFor soaking, dipping, or immersing something in liquid, such as dipping your feet in a bath. It is close in meaning to 漬ける, and the two overlap for putting something into liquid.
- 含ませるふくませるichidan verb, transitive verbFor making something absorb or hold liquid, as when saturating a cloth with water, or making someone hold something in the mouth. Not the word for soaking an object by immersing it in liquid.
- 濡らすぬらすgodan verb, transitive verbEssentially means to wet or moisten something, like wetting a towel. Choose it when 'soak' simply means making something wet; for soaking something through, 漬ける or 浸す fit better.
Choose 「しみる」 when a liquid soaks into something, 「漬ける」 or 「浸す」 when you put something into liquid to soak or steep it, 「含ませる」 when something is made to absorb or hold liquid, and 「濡らす」 for simply wetting something.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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