腫れる・脹れる|はれるhareru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Which spelling to use
腫れる腫れる(はれる) is the common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing this word.
脹れる脹れる(はれる) is a rarely used written variant; learners will seldom see it, so use 腫れる(はれる) instead.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, intransitive verbto swell (from inflammation); to become swollen
    扁桃腺へんとうせんがはれている気きがするのですが。↗
    I'm afraid my tonsils are swollen.
Conjugation
Dictionary form腫れる(はれる)
Polite (masu)腫れます(はれます)
Negative (nai)腫れない(はれない)
polite (masen)腫れません(はれません)
classical zu / nu腫れず・腫れぬ(はれず・はれぬ)
Past (ta)腫れた(はれた)
polite (mashita)腫れました(はれました)
Past negative (nakatta)腫れなかった(はれなかった)
polite (masen deshita)腫れませんでした(はれませんでした)
Te form腫れて(はれて)
Potential腫れられる(はれられる)
Passive腫れられる(はれられる)
Causative腫れさせる(はれさせる)
Causative passive腫れさせられる(はれさせられる)
Conditional (ba)腫れれば(はれれば)
tara腫れたら(はれたら)
Volitional腫れよう(はれよう)
polite (mashou)腫れましょう(はれましょう)
Imperative腫れろ(はれろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym膨らむふくらむNeutralExpands outward from within — balloons, bread, dreams, budgets. 「腫れる」 covers only swelling of a body part.
  • Synonym膨れるふくれるNeutralBulges outward, or means sulking and pouting. 「腫れる」 focuses on a swollen body part.
  • Synonym膨れ上がるふくれあがるNeutralSwells up as a whole, often dramatically; also for budgets or numbers ballooning. 「腫れる」 is only for body parts, never for increases in quantity.
  • Related張り出すはりだすNeutralProjects or juts outward, and also means putting up a notice. 「腫れる」 is about a body part swelling up.
  • Related膨張ぼうちょうWrittenA written-style noun for expansion, mainly physical or economic. 「腫れる」 applies only to the body.
  • Related出っ張るでっぱるCasualColloquial word for something protruding, such as a belly. 「腫れる」 is about a swollen body part.
  • AntonymしぼむNeutralAntonym: withering or shrivelling, losing firmness — the opposite of swelling up like 「腫れる」.

Use 「腫れる」 for a swollen body part, as in 「目が腫れる」 or 「足が腫れる」. For general bulging pick 「膨らむ」 or 「膨れる」, for surging numbers 「膨れ上がる」, for physical or economic expansion the written noun 「膨張」, for protruding 「張り出す」 or 「出っ張る」, for shrinking 「萎む」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 炎症えんしょうをおこして、皮膚ひふが膨ふくらみ上あがる。
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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