The Meaning of chijimu [縮む] In Japanese

縮む
ちぢむ
Romaji: chijimu N5

What does 縮む mean?

Translation and Meaning

to shrink, to contract, to dwindle, to become smaller

Definition

What does 縮む mean? It means to become smaller in size or length, typically due to heat, moisture, washing, or aging. It is an intransitive verb used for things that physically shrink rather than for deliberate actions, and is commonly applied to fabrics, materials, and objects affected by conditions that draw them tighter or shorter.

Type

Verb (godan, intransitive)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Clothes or fabrics shrinking after washing or laundering
  • Other objects that reduce in size due to heat, moisture, wear, or aging
  • Figurative or technical usage to indicate contraction or reduction in measurements or scope

Etymology

縮 conveys the idea of tightening or drawing together; 縮む combines kun’yomi ちぢむ with the semantic kanji to express the action of shrinking; in compounds, the on’yomi シュク appears in related terms like 縮小 and 縮尺, illustrating phonetic/semantic connections.

Composition

  • 縮 describes shrinking; the left-side thread radical signals materials or textiles, and together with the other elements conveys contraction; when followed by む, it forms the verb meaning to shrink

Usage

Used in casual and formal contexts to describe physical contraction of materials; typical usage with garments, fabrics, ropes and other pliable objects; common sentence pattern is subject が 縮む; can appear in technical writing to note dimensional changes in experiments, products, or packaging; not typically used for intangible shrinkage.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a length of thread being pulled tight; the thread radical on the left and the compression of the right side visually cue the idea of shrinking, which helps recall that 縮む means to shrink.

Variations

  • 小さくなる — chiisakunaru
  • 縮小する — shukushou suru
  • 膨張する — bouchou suru (antonym)
縮む