澄む・清む|すむsumu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
澄む澄む（すむ） is the more common written form for this meaning; use it as the default choice when writing the word.
清む清む（すむ） is a less common written variant of the same word; learners are more likely to recognize it than choose it.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto become clear (water, air, etc.); to become transparent水が底まで澄んでいる。↗The water is clear to the bottom.
- godan verb, intransitive verbto resonate clearly (e.g. voice)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto become serene; to become tranquil; to be free of worries
- godan verb, intransitive verbto pronounce as an unvoiced sound
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 澄む（すむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 澄みます（すみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 澄まない（すまない） |
| polite (masen) | 澄みません（すみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 澄まず・澄まぬ（すまず・すまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 澄んだ（すんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 澄みました（すみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 澄まなかった（すまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 澄みませんでした（すみませんでした） |
| Te form | 澄んで（すんで） |
| Potential | 澄める（すめる） |
| Passive | 澄まれる（すまれる） |
| Causative | 澄ませる（すませる） |
| Causative passive | 澄ませられる・澄まされる（すませられる・すまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 澄めば（すめば） |
| tara | 澄んだら（すんだら） |
| Volitional | 澄もう（すもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 澄みましょう（すみましょう） |
| Imperative | 澄め（すめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
水が澄む
水を澄ます
澄む is intransitive and describes water becoming clear, as in 水が澄む; 澄ます is transitive and describes an agent making the water clear, as in 水を澄ます.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
