膨れる・脹れる|ふくれるfukureru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
膨れる膨れる（ふくれる） is the common and recommended written form; beginners should use it as their default when writing this word.
脹れる脹れる（ふくれる） is a rarely used written variant, so learners will seldom encounter it and generally need only recognize it.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto swell (out); to expand; to be inflated; to distend; to bulge
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto get cross; to get sulky; to pout
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 膨れる（ふくれる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 膨れます（ふくれます） |
| Negative (nai) | 膨れない（ふくれない） |
| polite (masen) | 膨れません（ふくれません） |
| classical zu / nu | 膨れず・膨れぬ（ふくれず・ふくれぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 膨れた（ふくれた） |
| polite (mashita) | 膨れました（ふくれました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 膨れなかった（ふくれなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 膨れませんでした（ふくれませんでした） |
| Te form | 膨れて（ふくれて） |
| Potential | 膨れられる（ふくれられる） |
| Passive | 膨れられる（ふくれられる） |
| Causative | 膨れさせる（ふくれさせる） |
| Causative passive | 膨れさせられる（ふくれさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 膨れれば（ふくれれば） |
| tara | 膨れたら（ふくれたら） |
| Volitional | 膨れよう（ふくれよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 膨れましょう（ふくれましょう） |
| Imperative | 膨れろ（ふくれろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
パンが膨れる
パンを膨らます
膨れる expresses that something swells or rises by itself, while 膨らます focuses on the act of making it expand.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym膨らむふくらむNeutralDescribes bulging or swelling out, and figuratively hopes that swell. 「膨れる」 also covers a stuffed belly and sulking in anger.
- Synonym膨張ぼうちょうWrittenA written-style noun for expansion in volume or size. 「膨れる」 is a verb and sounds more colloquial.
- Synonym腫れるはれるNeutralRefers to red, inflamed swelling from injury or illness, as in 「目が腫れる」. 「膨れる」 focuses on something bulging outward.
- Synonym膨れ上がるふくれあがるNeutralSuggests swelling up to a very large size, or numbers ballooning, as in 「予算が膨れ上がる」. Unlike 「膨れる」, it never refers to sulking or pouting.
- SynonymむくむNeutralRefers to puffiness from fluid retention, as in 「顔がむくむ」. 「膨れる」 focuses on something bulging outward.
- Synonym膨潤ぼうじゅんWrittenA written chemistry term for swelling caused by absorbing water. 「膨れる」 is the more colloquial choice.
- AntonymしぼむNeutralThe opposite of 「膨れる」 in bulging versus deflating: it describes things wilting, withering or going limp.
- Antonym凹むへこむNeutralStands opposite to 「膨れる」 as denting versus bulging: it describes a surface caving in or sinking inward.
- Antonym痩せるやせるNeutralMeans becoming thin or slim, roughly the reverse of 「膨れる」's bulging out, though not a strict antonym.
- Antonym窪むくぼむNeutralAlso contrasts with 「膨れる」 as sinking versus bulging: it describes a spot becoming hollow or depressed.
Use 「膨れる」 for bulging out, a stuffed belly, or sulking with a pout. For hopes swelling choose 「膨らむ」, for numbers ballooning 「膨れ上がる」, for inflamed swelling 「腫れる」, for puffiness 「浮腫む」. Antonyms include 「萎む」 and 「凹む」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
