Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

沈む

しずむ

to sink, set

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 太陽が海に沈みます。

    たいようがうみにしずみます。

    The sun sinks into the sea.

  2. 石は水に沈みます。

    いしはみずにしずみます。

    Stones sink in water.

  3. 試験に落ちてから、彼は気持ちが沈んでいます。

    しけんにおちてから、かれはきもちがしずんでいます。

    Ever since he failed the exam, he's been feeling down.

Common patterns

日が沈む
for the sun to set
船が沈む
for a ship to sink
気持ちが沈む
to feel down

Memory tip

It works on moods as well as objects: 気持ちが沈む is "to feel low." For things in water the opposite is 浮かぶ, to float.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5

What does 沈む mean?