縮まる|ちぢまるchijimaru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, intransitive verbto shorten; to narrow; to close; to shrink
Conjugation
Dictionary form縮まる(ちぢまる)
Polite (masu)縮まります(ちぢまります)
Negative (nai)縮まらない(ちぢまらない)
polite (masen)縮まりません(ちぢまりません)
classical zu / nu縮まらず・縮まらぬ(ちぢまらず・ちぢまらぬ)
Past (ta)縮まった(ちぢまった)
polite (mashita)縮まりました(ちぢまりました)
Past negative (nakatta)縮まらなかった(ちぢまらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)縮まりませんでした(ちぢまりませんでした)
Te form縮まって(ちぢまって)
Potential縮まれる(ちぢまれる)
Passive縮まられる(ちぢまられる)
Causative縮まらせる(ちぢまらせる)
Causative passive縮まらせられる・縮まらされる(ちぢまらせられる・ちぢまらされる)
Conditional (ba)縮まれば(ちぢまれば)
tara縮まったら(ちぢまったら)
Volitional縮まろう(ちぢまろう)
polite (mashou)縮まりましょう(ちぢまりましょう)
Imperative縮まれ(ちぢまれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
intransitive縮まるちぢまる⇄transitive縮めるちぢめる
距離きょりが縮ちぢまる
縮まる describes something shrinking or contracting by itself (e.g., 距離が縮まる 'the distance shrinks'), while 縮める means to actively shorten or narrow something (e.g., 差を縮める 'to narrow the gap').

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym縮むちぢむNeutralFor fabric or the body shrinking smaller, as in 「セーターが縮む」. 「縮まる」 centers on gaps and distances closing or shortening.
  • Synonym収縮しゅうしゅくWrittenA noun used in written or formal prose for contraction, as in 「筋肉の収縮」. 「縮まる」 is the more colloquial choice.
  • Related減るへるNeutralFor numbers or amounts getting smaller; the most general word for decrease. 「縮まる」 instead focuses on distance, gaps or time getting shorter.

Use 「縮まる」 for distances, gaps or time getting shorter, as in 「差が縮まる」. Choose 「縮む」 for fabric or the body shrinking, 「減る」 for numbers or amounts dropping, and the formal noun 「収縮」 in written prose.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. サイズなどが小ちいさくなる。差さが小ちいさくなる。
  2. 体からだや気持きもちが小ちいさくなる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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