When you hear 沈む (shizumu), think of something going down, often into water. It's used for literal sinking, like a boat in the ocean. For example, 船が沈む (fune ga shizumu) means "a ship sinks."
You also use it for the sun setting. So, 太陽が沈む (taiyou ga shizumu) means "the sun sets." It gives a feeling of something descending or disappearing below a surface or horizon.
When you hear 沈む (shizumu), you're probably thinking about something sinking, like a ship in the ocean or a stone in water. And you'd be right!
However, 沈む also has another common use: to describe the sun setting. So you might hear 「夕日が沈む」 (yūhi ga shizumu) which means "the evening sun sets."
You can also use it in a more figurative sense, like when someone is feeling down or depressed, their spirits might be described as 沈む. It literally means their mood is sinking.
It's a versatile verb to describe something going down, whether literally or figuratively.
When you hear 「沈む」(shizumu), you're often encountering a concept of descending or being submerged. At its core, it means to sink, like a boat in water or a heavy object to the bottom. However, it's not just about physical sinking. You'll also use it when talking about the sun setting, where it appears to sink below the horizon.
Beyond the literal, 「沈む」 can convey a sense of metaphorical sinking. For instance, if someone is feeling down or depressed, you might hear their spirits described as 「心が沈む」(kokoro ga shizumu), meaning their heart is sinking. It can also refer to a quiet, subdued atmosphere, like a room where everyone is 「沈黙に沈む」(chinmoku ni shizumu) – sunk in silence.
It’s a versatile word that paints a picture of something moving downwards, whether physically, visually, or emotionally. Understanding these nuances will greatly enhance your comprehension of spoken and written Japanese.
§ よくある間違い (Common Mistakes)
When you're learning Japanese, it's easy to get words like 沈む (shizumu) confused, especially when there are similar-sounding words or words with overlapping meanings. Let's look at some common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Confusing 沈む (shizumu) with 落ちる (ochiru)
Both 沈む (shizumu) and 落ちる (ochiru) can mean 'to fall' or 'to go down,' but they are used in different contexts. This is a common point of confusion for learners.
- DEFINITION
- 沈む (shizumu): To sink; to go down below the surface (e.g., water), or for the sun to set. Implies a gradual descent into a medium or a natural lowering.
- DEFINITION
- 落ちる (ochiru): To fall; to drop from a higher place to a lower place. This can be accidental or intentional, and doesn't necessarily involve sinking into a medium.
Think of it this way:
- Use 沈む (shizumu) when something goes *into* or *below* something else, like a boat sinking into water, or the sun sinking below the horizon.
- Use 落ちる (ochiru) when something simply *falls* from a height, like a leaf falling from a tree, or a person falling down.
船が海に沈んだ。(Fune ga umi ni shizunda.)
Hint: The ship sank into the sea.
木から葉っぱが落ちた。(Ki kara happa ga ochita.)
Hint: A leaf fell from the tree.
§ Mistake 2: Incorrectly using 沈む (shizumu) for emotional states
While 沈む (shizumu) can be used metaphorically for feelings like 'to feel down' or 'to be depressed,' you need to be careful with the nuance. Directly translating "I'm sinking into sadness" often sounds unnatural.
- DEFINITION
- 気分が沈む (kibun ga shizumu): To feel depressed; to feel down. This is a common and natural way to use 沈む (shizumu) metaphorically.
However, using 沈む (shizumu) for very intense or specific emotions might not always be the best choice. While you might say 気分が沈む (kibun ga shizumu) for a general feeling of sadness, avoid constructing phrases like *悲しみに沈む (kanashimi ni shizumu)* directly, as it can sound a bit stiff or overly dramatic in everyday conversation. More natural expressions exist.
試験の結果が悪くて、気分が沈んでいる。(Shiken no kekka ga warukute, kibun ga shizunde iru.)
Hint: My mood is down because of the bad exam results.
§ Mistake 3: Overlooking the intransitive nature of 沈む (shizumu)
沈む (shizumu) is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. This means something *itself* sinks, rather than someone *sinking something*.
- DEFINITION
- Intransitive verb: A verb that does not require a direct object.
In English, we can say "The boat sank" (intransitive) or "They sank the boat" (transitive). In Japanese, for the transitive action of 'to sink something,' you would use a different verb like 沈める (shizumeru).
太陽が西の空に沈んだ。(Taiyou ga nishi no sora ni shizunda.)
Hint: The sun set in the western sky.
彼らは古い船を海に沈めた。(Karera wa furui fune o umi ni shizumeta.)
Hint: They sank the old ship in the sea. (Here, 沈めた is the transitive form 沈める, not 沈む).
By keeping these common mistakes in mind, you'll be able to use 沈む (shizumu) more accurately and confidently in your Japanese conversations and writing. Practice makes perfect, so try to create your own sentences using the tips above!
§ Understanding 沈む (shizumu)
- Japanese Word
- 沈む (しずむ)
- Pronunciation
- shizumu
- Type
- Verb (intransitive)
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- To sink; to go down below the surface; for the sun to set.
§ Examples of 沈む (shizumu) in Use
船が海に沈んだ。 (Fune ga umi ni shizunda.)
夕日が地平線に沈む。 (Yuuhi ga chiheisen ni shizumu.)
気持ちが沈んでいる。 (Kimochi ga shizunde iru.)
§ Similar Words and When to Use 沈む (shizumu) vs. Alternatives
- 潜る (moguru)
- This verb means 'to dive' or 'to go underwater'. The key difference from 沈む (shizumu) is that 潜る (moguru) implies intentional movement, usually by a person or animal, with the purpose of being under the surface. A diver 潜る (moguru) into the water, but a heavy object will 沈む (shizumu).
彼は海に潜った。 (Kare wa umi ni mogutta.)
Hint: He dove into the sea. - 落ちる (ochiru)
- This means 'to fall' or 'to drop'. While an object can fall into water and then sink, 落ちる (ochiru) describes the act of falling from a higher place to a lower one, or simply dropping. 沈む (shizumu) specifically refers to being submerged or going down within a liquid or below a surface, or the specific phenomenon of celestial bodies setting.
リンゴが木から落ちた。 (Ringo ga ki kara ochita.)
Hint: An apple fell from the tree. - 降る (furu)
- This verb means 'to fall' specifically for precipitation like rain or snow. While rain 'comes down', you wouldn't use 沈む (shizumu) for it. 沈む (shizumu) is for objects going under a surface or the sun/moon setting.
雨が降っている。 (Ame ga futte iru.)
Hint: It's raining.
- Sinking into water or another liquid.
- Going down below a surface (like a road sinking due to damage).
- Referring to the sun or moon setting.
- Metaphorically describing a mood of being down or depressed.
趣味小知识
The kanji 沈 is also used in words related to silence (e.g., 沈黙 - chinmoku - silence) because something that sinks often does so quietly.
发音指南
- Pronouncing the 'u' at the end too strongly; it's often devoiced.
难度评级
Common kanji, relatively easy to recognize.
Kanji has 7 strokes, not overly complex but requires practice.
Simple pronunciation, two morae.
Clear pronunciation, easily distinguishable.
接下来学什么
前置知识
接下来学习
高级
按水平分级的例句
太陽が沈む。
The sun sets.
太陽 (taiyō) = sun; が (ga) = subject marker
船が海に沈む。
The ship sinks into the sea.
船 (fune) = ship; 海 (umi) = sea; に (ni) = indicates direction/location
ボールが水に沈む。
The ball sinks in the water.
ボール (bōru) = ball; 水 (mizu) = water
夕日が沈むのが見えますか？
Can you see the sunset?
夕日 (yūhi) = evening sun; の (no) = possessive particle; 見えますか (miemasu ka) = can you see?
コインが底に沈む。
The coin sinks to the bottom.
コイン (koin) = coin; 底 (soko) = bottom; に (ni) = indicates location
沈む前に助けてください。
Please help me before I sink.
前に (mae ni) = before; 助けてください (tasukete kudasai) = please help
湖に石が沈む。
A stone sinks into the lake.
湖 (mizuumi) = lake; 石 (ishi) = stone
日が沈むと暗くなる。
When the sun sets, it gets dark.
日 (hi) = day/sun; と (to) = when/if; 暗くなる (kuraku naru) = becomes dark
太陽が地平線に沈む。
The sun sets on the horizon.
太陽 (たいよう): sun, 地平線 (ちへいせん): horizon, に: particle indicating location/direction
船が海に沈んだ。
The ship sank into the sea.
船 (ふね): ship, 海 (うみ): sea, に: particle indicating location, 沈んだ (しずんだ): past tense of 沈む
悲しみに沈む。
To be plunged into sadness.
悲しみ (かなしみ): sadness, に: particle indicating state/condition
日が沈む前に家に帰ろう。
Let's go home before the sun sets.
日 (ひ): sun/day, 前に (まえに): before, 家に帰ろう (いえにかえろう): let's go home
彼の声は悲しみに沈んでいた。
His voice was heavy with sadness.
彼 (かれ): he/his, 声 (こえ): voice, は: topic particle
夕焼けが海に沈む光景は美しい。
The scene of the sunset sinking into the sea is beautiful.
夕焼け (ゆうやけ): sunset glow, 光景 (こうけい): scene, 美しい (うつくしい): beautiful
水に沈む石。
A stone sinking in the water.
水 (みず): water, 石 (いし): stone
日が沈んでから、気温が下がった。
After the sun set, the temperature dropped.
から: after, 気温 (きおん): temperature, 下がった (さがった): dropped (past tense)
太陽が西に沈む。
The sun sets in the west.
A common phrase describing the setting sun. 「西に」indicates the direction.
船は嵐で海に沈んだ。
The ship sank in the storm.
「嵐で」means 'due to the storm' or 'in the storm'. 「海に」indicates where it sank.
夕焼け空に飛行機が沈んでいく。
An airplane descends into the sunset sky.
「沈んでいく」implies a gradual sinking or descending motion. 「夕焼け空に」describes the setting.
悲しみに心が沈んだ。
My heart sank with sadness.
「悲しみに」indicates the cause of the feeling. 「心が沈む」is a common idiom for feeling down.
水面に浮かんでいた葉がゆっくりと沈んでいった。
The leaf floating on the water slowly sank.
「水面に浮かんでいた」describes the leaf's initial state. 「ゆっくりと」means 'slowly'.
彼の声は次第に沈んでいった。
His voice gradually faded.
Here, 「沈む」is used metaphorically to describe a voice becoming lower or quieter. 「次第に」means 'gradually'.
潜水艦は深海へと沈んでいった。
The submarine descended into the deep sea.
「深海へと」indicates the destination or direction of descent. 「へと」emphasizes movement towards a place.
希望が沈むことなく、前向きに進もう。
Let's move forward positively, without losing hope.
「希望が沈むことなく」means 'without hope sinking' or 'without losing hope'. 「ことなく」is a formal way to say 'without doing something'.
太陽が地平線に沈むのを見つめながら、一日の終わりを感じた。
I felt the end of the day while gazing at the sun setting on the horizon.
〜を見つめながら (while gazing at...)
彼の心は深い悲しみに沈んでしまい、何も手につかなかった。
His heart sank into deep sadness, and he couldn't do anything.
〜に沈む (to sink into...), 〜が手につかない (unable to focus on...)
船は嵐で深い海に沈んでしまったと報告された。
It was reported that the ship sank into the deep sea due to the storm.
〜によって (due to...), 〜と報告された (it was reported that...)
会社の業績不振で、株式市場は沈んだ雰囲気に包まれた。
Due to the company's poor performance, the stock market was enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere.
〜に包まれる (to be enveloped in...)
長年の夢だった海外旅行が中止になり、彼女はすっかり沈んでしまった。
Her long-cherished dream of an overseas trip was canceled, and she became completely dejected.
〜が中止になる (to be canceled), すっかり〜 (completely...)
夕日がビル群の間にゆっくりと沈んでいく景色は、都会ならではの美しさだ。
The sight of the evening sun slowly setting between the buildings is a unique beauty of the city.
〜ならではの〜 (unique to...), 〜ていく (to continue...)
議論の途中で、彼の顔から笑顔が消え、深い考えに沈んでいるようだった。
In the middle of the discussion, the smile disappeared from his face, and he seemed to be lost in deep thought.
〜の途中で (in the middle of...), 〜ているようだった (seemed to be...)
その日、彼は自分の殻に沈み込み、誰とも話そうとしなかった。
That day, he retreated into his shell and didn't try to talk to anyone.
自分の殻に沈み込む (to retreat into one's shell), 〜ようとしない (to not try to...)
常见搭配
常用短语
夕日が海に沈む。
The evening sun sets into the sea.
船がゆっくりと水面に沈んでいった。
The ship slowly sank below the surface of the water.
悲しいニュースを聞いて、気持ちが沈んだ。
My spirits sank when I heard the sad news.
彼女はソファに深く沈んで座った。
She sat deeply sunken into the sofa.
コインはプールの底に沈んだ。
The coin sank to the bottom of the pool.
太陽が地平線に沈む。
The sun sets on the horizon.
その村は洪水で水中に沈んだ。
That village was submerged in water due to the flood.
彼は考え事に沈んでいた。
He was lost in thought.
心が沈むような日だった。
It was a day that made my heart sink.
この町は静けさに沈んでいる。
This town is enveloped in silence.
容易混淆的词
While both involve going down, 落ちる is about falling due to gravity, whereas 沈む is about sinking or setting.
This is the transitive counterpart. Remember 沈む is intransitive (sinks on its own), 沈める is transitive (someone causes it to sink).
下がる is a general 'to go down' or 'to drop' for levels or prices, while 沈む is specifically for sinking or setting.
语法模式
容易混淆
This verb can be tricky because it has a couple of distinct meanings depending on the context. Learners often get stuck on whether it refers to something physically sinking or the sun setting.
It means 'to sink' when talking about objects in water or anything going below a surface. It also means 'to set' specifically for celestial bodies like the sun or moon.
船が海に沈んだ。 (Fune ga umi ni shizunda.) - The ship sank into the sea. / 太陽が地平線に沈む。 (Taiyou ga chiheisen ni shizumu.) - The sun sets below the horizon.
This is the transitive form of 沈む, which can be confusing because the meanings are related but the grammatical function is different. Learners might use 沈む when they need 沈める.
沈む is intransitive (something sinks on its own). 沈める is transitive (someone or something causes something else to sink).
敵の船を沈めた。 (Teki no fune wo shizumeta.) - I sank the enemy ship.
Both 沈む and 落ちる can mean 'to go down,' but in different ways. Learners might mix them up when describing something falling.
沈む implies sinking into a liquid or going below a surface, or setting. 落ちる generally means 'to fall' due to gravity, without necessarily entering a liquid or going below a surface.
リンゴが木から落ちた。 (Ringo ga ki kara ochita.) - The apple fell from the tree.
This verb also means 'to go down' or 'to drop,' which can cause confusion with 沈む, especially when talking about levels or prices.
沈む is specifically about sinking or setting. 下がる is more general and refers to a decrease in height, level, or price, or something hanging down.
気温が下がった。 (Kion ga sagatta.) - The temperature dropped. / カーテンが下がっている。 (Kaaten ga sagatte iru.) - The curtain is hanging down.
This verb involves going underwater, similar to sinking, but the nuance is different.
沈む is about something passively sinking or going below the surface. 潜る implies actively diving or submerging oneself or something else.
海に潜る。 (Umi ni moguru.) - To dive into the sea.
句型
X が 沈む (X ga shizumu)
太陽が沈む。(Taiyō ga shizumu.) - The sun sets.
X が Y に 沈む (X ga Y ni shizumu)
船が海に沈む。(Fune ga umi ni shizumu.) - The ship sinks into the sea.
X が 沈んでいる (X ga shizunde iru)
心が沈んでいる。(Kokoro ga shizunde iru.) - My heart is sinking (I'm feeling down).
X を 沈める (X o shizumeru)
潜水艦は敵の船を沈めた。(Sensuikan wa teki no fune o shizumeta.) - The submarine sank the enemy's ship.
X に 沈み込む (X ni shizumikomu)
ソファに深く沈み込む。(Sofa ni fukaku shizumikomu.) - To sink deeply into the sofa.
X が Y に 沈没する (X ga Y ni chinbotsu suru)
タイタニック号は大西洋に沈没した。(Titanic-gō wa Taiseiyō ni chinbotsu shita.) - The Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
X が Y に 沈静化する (X ga Y ni chinseika suru)
デモは最終的に沈静化した。(Demo wa saishūteki ni chinseika shita.) - The demonstration eventually quieted down.
X に 精神的に沈む (X ni seishinteki ni shizumu)
試験の結果に精神的に沈んだ。(Shiken no kekka ni seishinteki ni shizunda.) - I was mentally depressed by the exam results.
如何使用
When talking about something going down into water or another liquid, like a ship or a person, use 沈む. You can also use it for the sun or moon setting. It can also describe a feeling of sadness, like your spirits sinking.
Examples:
- 船が沈む。(Fune ga shizumu.) - The boat sinks. (Hint: Boat + sinks)
- 太陽が沈む。(Taiyou ga shizumu.) - The sun sets. (Hint: Sun + sets)
- 気持ちが沈む。(Kimochi ga shizumu.) - My spirits sink. (Hint: Feelings + sink)
A common mistake is confusing 沈む (shizumu) with 沈める (shizumeru). 沈む is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. It describes something sinking on its own. 沈める is a transitive verb, meaning someone or something causes something else to sink.
Incorrect example:
- 私は船を沈む。(Watashi wa fune o shizumu.) - This is incorrect because you are trying to make the boat sink actively with 沈む.
Correct way to say someone sank the boat:
- 私は船を沈める。(Watashi wa fune o shizumeru.) - I sink the boat. (Hint: I + boat + cause to sink)
小贴士
Basic Meaning of 沈む
The most common meaning of 沈む (shizumu) is 'to sink' or 'to submerge'. Think of a ship sinking in water.
Sun Setting
You'll frequently hear 沈む used for the 'setting' of the sun or moon. For example, 太陽が沈む (tai-you ga shizumu) means 'the sun sets'.
Emotional State
沈む can also describe a person's mood or spirits 'sinking' or becoming 'depressed'. 気分が沈む (kibun ga shizumu) means 'one's spirits sink'.
Physical Objects Sinking
Use 沈む for any physical object going below a surface. 石が水に沈む (ishi ga mizu ni shizumu) means 'a stone sinks in the water'.
Not for 'Falling'
Don't confuse 沈む with 落ちる (ochiru), which means 'to fall' generally. 沈む specifically implies going *below* a surface or level.
Intransitive Verb
沈む is an intransitive verb. This means it doesn't take a direct object. The thing that sinks is the subject of the sentence.
Past Tense Usage
To say something 'sank' or 'set', use 沈んだ (shizunda). For example, 船が沈んだ (fune ga shizunda) means 'the ship sank'.
Common Phrase: 気持ちが沈む
A very common phrase is 気持ちが沈む (kimochi ga shizumu), meaning 'to feel down' or 'to feel depressed'.
Related Verb: 沈める
The transitive verb is 沈める (shizumeru), meaning 'to sink something' or 'to submerge something'. For example, 船を沈める (fune o shizumeru) means 'to sink a ship'.
词源
Native Japanese word (yamato-kotoba)
原始含义： To sink, to submerge
Japonic文化背景
When talking about the sun setting, '日が沈む' (hi ga shizumu) is a common and natural phrase. It evokes a peaceful image of the day ending. While '沈む' can be used for things literally sinking, like a boat, its usage for the sun is a very common and poetic application you'll often encounter in daily conversation and media.
常见问题
10 个问题Great question! While other verbs might mean 'to go down,' 沈む (shizumu) specifically refers to sinking, going below a surface (like water), or the setting of the sun. Think of it as a downward motion into or beneath something, or a natural phenomenon like a sunset. Other verbs like 下がる (sagaru) are more general for things moving down, like a price or a curtain.
Yes, it can. For example, if someone is drowning, you might say: 彼が水に沈んでいる (Kare ga mizu ni shizunde iru). This means 'He is sinking in the water.' However, you might also hear 溺れる (oboreru) which specifically means 'to drown.'
It's very common! You'd say: 日が沈む (Hi ga shizumu). This literally means 'the sun sinks' or 'the sun sets.' It's a natural and common way to express sunset in Japanese.
Not always. While its primary meaning is physical sinking, 沈む can also be used figuratively to describe a mood or feeling sinking, meaning to feel depressed or gloomy. For example, 気分が沈む (Kibun ga shizumu) means 'My mood sinks/I feel depressed.'
Here are a few common ones:
- 船が沈む (Fune ga shizumu): The ship sinks.
- 日が沈む (Hi ga shizumu): The sun sets.
- 水に沈む (Mizu ni shizumu): To sink in the water.
- 気分が沈む (Kibun ga shizumu): To feel depressed/gloomy.
沈む is a 五段活用 (godan katsuyou) verb, also known as a Group 1 or U-verb. Here's a quick look at some basic conjugations:
- Present/Plain form: 沈む (shizumu)
- Past form: 沈んだ (shizunda)
- Te-form: 沈んで (shizunde)
- Negative form: 沈まない (shizumanai)
- Masu form: 沈みます (shizumimasu)
For a submarine, while it does go below the surface, 潜る (moguru) is more commonly used, meaning 'to dive' or 'to submerge.' 沈む implies a more permanent or unintended sinking. However, if a submarine were to sink uncontrollably, 沈む would be appropriate.
One useful phrase is 「重いものは沈む」 (Omoi mono wa shizumu), meaning 'Heavy things sink.' This can be used literally or sometimes figuratively to mean that inevitable consequences will occur, especially for heavy burdens or problems.
The kanji 沈 (chin/shizu) means 'to sink' or 'to submerge.' It's a relatively straightforward kanji that directly conveys the meaning of the verb. The radical on the left is a water radical (氵), indicating a connection to water, which makes sense for 'sinking'.
Yes, it does! The transitive form is 沈める (shizumeru), which means 'to sink (something)' or 'to submerge (something).' So, if a person sinks a ship, they would 沈める the ship. If the ship sinks on its own, it would 沈む.
自我测试 90 个问题
太陽が___。
The sun sets. The verb 沈む (shizumu) is used for the sun setting.
船が海に___。
The ship sinks into the sea. 沈む (shizumu) means to sink.
コップが水に___。
The cup sinks in the water. Use 沈む (shizumu) for something going below the surface.
夜になると、太陽が西に___。
When night comes, the sun sets in the west. 沈む (shizumu) is the correct verb for 'to set' in this context.
重い石は水に___。
Heavy stones sink in water. 沈む (shizumu) describes something sinking.
夕日がきれいに___。
The sunset looks beautiful. 夕日 (yūhi) refers to the setting sun, so 沈む (shizumu) is appropriate.
Choose the correct hiragana for 沈む.
The correct hiragana for 沈む is しずむ.
Which sentence correctly uses 沈む to mean 'the sun sets'?
太陽が沈みます (Taiyou ga shizumimasu) means 'The sun sets'.
If a boat sinks, what Japanese verb would you use?
沈む (shizumu) is used for sinking, like a boat.
You can use 沈む to talk about a boat sinking in the water.
Yes, 沈む (shizumu) means 'to sink' and is used for objects like boats.
沈む is only used for the sun setting.
No, 沈む (shizumu) can also mean to sink, like a boat or a person's mood.
When the sun goes down, you can say 太陽が沈む.
Yes, 太陽が沈む (Taiyou ga shizumu) means 'the sun sets'.
Write a short sentence about something sinking in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
船が海に沈む。(A boat sinks into the sea.)
Use 沈む in a sentence describing the sun setting.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
太陽が沈む。(The sun sets.)
Write a simple sentence about an object going down.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
物が水に沈む。(An object sinks into the water.)
What happens to the boat?
Read this passage:
海に船が沈みます。 (A boat sinks into the sea.) 太陽が西に沈みます。(The sun sets in the west.)
What happens to the boat?
The passage says 「海に船が沈みます」 which means 'A boat sinks into the sea.'
The passage says 「海に船が沈みます」 which means 'A boat sinks into the sea.'
When does the sun 沈む?
Read this passage:
太陽が沈む。(The sun sets.) これは夕方のことです。(This is about the evening.)
When does the sun 沈む?
The passage states 「これは夕方のことです」, meaning 'This is about the evening.'
The passage states 「これは夕方のことです」, meaning 'This is about the evening.'
What happened to the coin?
Read this passage:
コインが水に沈みました。 (A coin sank into the water.) 私はそれを見つけられませんでした。(I couldn't find it.)
What happened to the coin?
The first sentence 「コインが水に沈みました」 directly translates to 'A coin sank into the water.'
The first sentence 「コインが水に沈みました」 directly translates to 'A coin sank into the water.'
This means 'The boat sinks.' '船 (fune)' means boat, 'が (ga)' is a subject particle, and '沈む (shizumu)' means to sink.
This means 'The sun sets.' '太陽 (taiyou)' means sun, 'が (ga)' is a subject particle, and '沈む (shizumu)' means to set.
This means 'To sink in water.' '水 (mizu)' means water, 'に (ni)' indicates location, and '沈む (shizumu)' means to sink.
Choose the correct kanji for 'shizumu' (to sink, to set).
The correct kanji for 'shizumu' is 沈. The other options use incorrect kanji or hiragana.
Which of these sentences uses '沈む' correctly?
「船が海に沈んだ」means 'The boat sank into the sea.' The other options mean 'floated,' 'swam,' and 'ran,' respectively.
What does 「日が沈む」mean?
「日が沈む」specifically refers to the sun setting.
「沈む」can be used to describe a person's mood becoming sad.
While literally meaning 'to sink,' 沈む can also be used figuratively to describe a mood 'sinking' or becoming gloomy.
If a coin drops into water, it will 「浮く」(float), not 「沈む」(sink).
Coins are typically denser than water and will 「沈む」(sink), not 「浮く」(float).
The phrase 「心が沈む」means to be happy.
「心が沈む」means one's heart or mood is 'sinking,' indicating sadness or dejection.
The sun is sinking.
The boat sank into the sea.
The setting sun sinks below the horizon.
Read this aloud:
太陽が沈む。
Focus: しずむ (shizumu)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
船は沈んだ。
Focus: ふね (fune), しずんだ (shizunda)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
日が沈むのが見えます。
Focus: ひが (higa), しずむ (shizumu), みえます (miemasu)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a sentence describing a ship sinking using 沈む.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
船が海に沈みました。(The ship sank into the sea.)
Write a sentence about the sun setting using 沈む.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
夕日が地平線に沈む。(The evening sun sets on the horizon.)
Imagine you dropped something in water and it sank. Write a sentence about it using 沈む.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
石が水の中に沈んだ。(The stone sank into the water.)
What is expected to be seen?
Read this passage:
今日の夜、太陽は西に沈むでしょう。とてもきれいな景色が見られるはずです。
What is expected to be seen?
The passage states 「とてもきれいな景色が見られるはずです」 which means 'A beautiful view should be seen'.
The passage states 「とてもきれいな景色が見られるはずです」 which means 'A beautiful view should be seen'.
What is in the sea?
Read this passage:
海の中に古い船が沈んでいます。それは長い間、誰も見ていませんでした。
What is in the sea?
The passage says 「海の中に古い船が沈んでいます」 which translates to 'An old ship is sunken in the sea'.
The passage says 「海の中に古い船が沈んでいます」 which translates to 'An old ship is sunken in the sea'.
Where did the sun set?
Read this passage:
太陽がゆっくりと山の後ろに沈んでいきました。空の色が変わっていくのが見えました。
Where did the sun set?
The passage states 「太陽がゆっくりと山の後ろに沈んでいきました」 which means 'The sun slowly set behind the mountain'.
The passage states 「太陽がゆっくりと山の後ろに沈んでいきました」 which means 'The sun slowly set behind the mountain'.
What do they like to see?
What happened to the ship?
How does thinking about the problem make them feel?
Read this aloud:
夕日が海に沈む光景は美しい。
Focus: しずむ (shizumu)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
重い荷物を持ちすぎると、体が水に沈む。
Focus: おもい (omoi), にもつ (nimotsu), しずむ (shizumu)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
悲しいニュースを聞いて、気持ちが沈んでしまった。
Focus: かなしい (kanashii), ニュース (nyuusu), しずんでしまった (shizunde shimatta)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'The ship sinks into the sea.' The particles indicate the ship as the subject (が) and the sea as the location (に).
This sentence means 'The sunset sinks below the horizon.' 夕日 (yuuhi) is the subject (が), and 地平線 (chiheisen) is the location (に).
This sentence means 'The coin sank to the bottom of the water.' コイン (koin) is the subject (は), and 水の底 (mizu no soko) is the location (に).
The particles が (ga) and に (ni) indicate the subject and location respectively. The verb comes at the end.
は (wa) marks the topic, 深く (fukaku) modifies the verb 沈んだ (shizunda), indicating 'deeply sunk'.
This is a more figurative use of 沈む, meaning 'to be lost in thought'. に (ni) indicates the state or condition.
This sentence describes the sunset over the horizon. The correct order is 'Yuuhi ga suiheisen ni shizumu' (The setting sun sinks below the horizon).
This sentence expresses someone being deeply saddened. The correct order is 'Kanojo wa kanashimi ni shizunde ita' (She was sinking in sorrow).
This sentence describes a ship sinking in a storm. The correct order is 'Sono fune wa arashi de umi ni shizunda' (That ship sank in the sea due to the storm).
過去の栄光に浸っていると、現状に___。
この文脈では、「現状に沈む」は現状に満足してしまい、進歩がない状態を表します。
彼の心は深い悲しみに___、何も手につかなかった。
「悲しみに沈む」は、深い悲しみに包まれて意気消沈する様子を表します。
問題の核心に___、根本的な解決策を探るべきだ。
「問題の核心に沈み込む」は、問題の本質を深く掘り下げて考えることを意味します。
夕日が地平線に___、空が美しいグラデーションに染まった。
夕日が地平線に消えていく様子を表現する際に、「沈む」が適切です。
会社の業績不振で、彼の表情は___いた。
「表情が沈む」は、元気がない、憂鬱な様子を表します。
議論が白熱する中、彼は自分の意見を言わずに___黙り込んだ。
「沈黙する」は、黙り込む、何も話さない状態を意味します。
The sunset over the horizon is a beautiful moment that marks the end of the day.
His heart sank into deep sorrow, and for a while, he couldn't do anything.
The economic downturn is plunging many companies into difficulties.
Read this aloud:
この船はかつて、海底に沈んだとされる伝説の財宝を運んでいた。
Focus: しずんだ
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
希望に満ちた未来を描いていたが、現実は彼を絶望の淵に沈ませた。
Focus: しずませた
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
会議室の重苦しい空気が、参加者全員の気分を沈ませた。
Focus: しずませた
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are describing a dramatic shipwreck scene. Use '沈む' to describe what happens to the ship and potentially its cargo.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
嵐の中、巨大な船が波に揺られ、ついに深海へと沈んでいった。船倉に積まれていた貴重な貨物も、船と共に海の底へと消えていったのだ。
Write a short paragraph about the feeling of watching the sunset over a beautiful landscape. Incorporate '沈む' to describe the sun's movement.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
地平線にゆっくりと沈む太陽が、空を鮮やかなオレンジ色と紫色に染め上げていた。その光景は息をのむほど美しく、一日の終わりを静かに告げていた。
You are writing a metaphorical description of a person feeling overwhelmed by sadness or despair. Use '沈む' to convey this feeling.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼女の心は深い悲しみに沈み、まるで暗闇の海に閉じ込められたかのようだった。どんなに手を伸ばしても、光は届かず、ただ重い感情に押しつぶされそうだった。
この文章から読み取れる、経済状況についての最も適切な説明はどれですか？
Read this passage:
経済が長期的な不況に沈み、多くの企業が倒産する危機に瀕している。政府は新たな経済対策を発表したが、その効果については疑問視する声も少なくない。国民の生活は厳しさを増しており、社会全体に不安が広がっている。
この文章から読み取れる、経済状況についての最も適切な説明はどれですか？
文章には「経済が長期的な不況に沈み」「国民の生活は厳しさを増しており、社会全体に不安が広がっている」と明記されています。
文章には「経済が長期的な不況に沈み」「国民の生活は厳しさを増しており、社会全体に不安が広がっている」と明記されています。
この都市伝説において、古代の遺跡はどのような状況にあるとされていますか？
Read this passage:
古い都市伝説によると、満月の夜には、湖の底に沈んだ古代の遺跡が一時的に姿を現すという。しかし、これまでにその真偽を確かめた者はいない。多くの探検家が挑戦したが、誰もその遺跡を見つけることはできなかった。
この都市伝説において、古代の遺跡はどのような状況にあるとされていますか？
文章には「湖の底に沈んだ古代の遺跡が一時的に姿を現す」と書かれています。
文章には「湖の底に沈んだ古代の遺跡が一時的に姿を現す」と書かれています。
「その評価が学界に完全に沈むことはなかった」という記述から、彼の論文の評価について何がわかりますか？
Read this passage:
彼の論文は、環境問題に対する新たな視点を提供し、学会に大きな波紋を投げかけた。しかし、保守的な学者たちの抵抗に遭い、最終的にはその評価が学界に完全に沈むことはなかった。彼はそれでも研究を続けることを決意した。
「その評価が学界に完全に沈むことはなかった」という記述から、彼の論文の評価について何がわかりますか？
「完全に沈むことはなかった」という否定形から、完全に忘れ去られたわけではないが、かといって主流になったわけでもないことが推測できます。
「完全に沈むことはなかった」という否定形から、完全に忘れ去られたわけではないが、かといって主流になったわけでもないことが推測できます。
This sentence describes a cause-and-effect relationship: 'As the economy sinks, the unemployment rate rises.' The particle 'につれて' (nitsurete) means 'as X happens, Y also happens.'
This sentence describes the sinking of a ship: 'The ship sank to the bottom of the sea in the storm.' 'へと' (e to) emphasizes the direction of sinking.
This sentence describes the sunset: 'When the sun sets in the west, the sky is dyed a beautiful sunset color.' 'と' (to) indicates a natural consequence.
/ 90 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning of 沈む
The most common meaning of 沈む (shizumu) is 'to sink' or 'to submerge'. Think of a ship sinking in water.
Sun Setting
You'll frequently hear 沈む used for the 'setting' of the sun or moon. For example, 太陽が沈む (tai-you ga shizumu) means 'the sun sets'.
Emotional State
沈む can also describe a person's mood or spirits 'sinking' or becoming 'depressed'. 気分が沈む (kibun ga shizumu) means 'one's spirits sink'.
Physical Objects Sinking
Use 沈む for any physical object going below a surface. 石が水に沈む (ishi ga mizu ni shizumu) means 'a stone sinks in the water'.
例句
夕日が海に沈む。
相关内容
更多nature词汇
～上
B1Above; on top of; up.
〜の上
A2On top of, above, upon.
豊か
B1Abundant; rich; plentiful (na-adjective).
〜に従って
B1According to, in conformity with, as (something happens).
酸性雨
B1Acid rain.
営み
B1Activity; daily life; undertaking (e.g., life's activities).
順応する
B1To adapt; to adjust; to conform.
~を背景に
B1Against the backdrop of; with...as background.
空気
A2air
大気汚染
B1Air pollution; the presence of harmful substances in the air.
