染める|そめるsomeru[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto dye; to colour; to color
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 染める（そめる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 染めます（そめます） |
| Negative (nai) | 染めない（そめない） |
| polite (masen) | 染めません（そめません） |
| classical zu / nu | 染めず・染めぬ（そめず・そめぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 染めた（そめた） |
| polite (mashita) | 染めました（そめました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 染めなかった（そめなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 染めませんでした（そめませんでした） |
| Te form | 染めて（そめて） |
| Potential | 染められる（そめられる） |
| Passive | 染められる（そめられる） |
| Causative | 染めさせる（そめさせる） |
| Causative passive | 染めさせられる（そめさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 染めれば（そめれば） |
| tara | 染めたら（そめたら） |
| Volitional | 染めよう（そめよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 染めましょう（そめましょう） |
| Imperative | 染めろ（そめろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
布が染まる
布を染める
染まる focuses on the event or resulting state, while 染める foregrounds the agent acting on something; compare 布が染まる with 布を染める.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym染色せんしょくNeutralA noun for dyeing as a process, or lab staining of specimens; rather technical, as in 「草木染色」. 「染める」 is the everyday verb.
- Synonym彩色さいしきWrittenWritten/formal prose: colouring a painting, as in 「彩色画」; 「染める」 is about dyeing materials such as cloth or hair.
- Synonym着色ちゃくしょくNeutralAdding colour to food or pictures, as in 「着色料」; 「染める」 centres on dyeing by immersion.
- Synonym彩るいろどるNeutralTo adorn or decorate, as in 「花が庭を彩る」; 「染める」 centres on dyeing colour in.
- Synonym染め付けるそめつけるNeutralDyes a pattern into cloth or ceramics, as in 「染め付けの皿」; 「染める」 is dyeing in general.
- Synonym色付けいろづけNeutralA noun for adding colour, also used figuratively for adding flair; 「染める」 centres on dyeing by immersion.
- Synonym染め出すそめだすNeutralDyes colours or patterns into cloth or thread; 「染める」 is the more general choice.
- Synonym色染めいろぞめNeutralA rare noun for dyeing; in everyday speech just say 「染める」.
- Synonym染め込むそめこむNeutralDyes colour firmly deep into the material; 「染める」 is the more general choice.
- Synonym色付けるいろづけるNeutralA verb for adding colour or brightening something up; 「染める」 centres on dyeing by immersion.
- Related彩りいろどりNeutralColour scheme or garnish, as in 「料理の彩り」; 「染める」 is the act of dyeing itself.
- Related赤面せきめんNeutralBlushing from shame or embarrassment; 「染める」 also covers flushing cheeks but is broader.
- Related紅潮こうちょうWrittenWritten/formal prose: a flush rising in the face, as in 「顔を紅潮させる」; 「染める」 is broader.
- Related赤らめるあからめるNeutralTransitive: to flush with embarrassment, as in 「頬を赤らめる」; 「染める」 also appears in 「頬を染める」.
- Related赤らむあからむNeutralIntransitive: to redden or blush; 「染める」 is transitive dyeing.
- Related頬染めるほおそめるWrittenA literary expression for cheeks flushing with embarrassment; 「染める」 is broader.
- Related赤むあかむWrittenArchaic word for turning red; rare in modern use — say 「赤らむ」 in daily speech.
- Antonym脱色するNeutralAntonym on the colouring-versus-removing axis: to fade or strip colour out.
- Antonym漂白するNeutralAntonym on the colouring-versus-removing axis: to bleach.
Use 「染める」 for dyeing cloth or hair, and also in 「頬を染める」. For colouring a painting pick 「彩色」; for food, 「着色」; for decorating or adding colour, 「彩る」. For blushing use 「赤らめる」 or the written 「紅潮」. The antonyms are 「脱色する」 and 「漂白する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
