Translation guide
Describes being completely soaked, usually by rain, sweat, or other liquids. Japanese uses different verbs and onomatopoeic adverbs depending on the cause and intensity.
To be thoroughly wet from rain, a downpour, or being splashed with water.
The most common and natural way to say 'be drenched' from rain or water. Emphasizes being soaked to the skin.
急な雨でずぶ濡れになった。
I got drenched in the sudden rain.
To be completely soaked with sweat, often from heat or exertion.
The standard expression for being drenched in sweat. びっしょり is an onomatopoeic adverb meaning 'soaking wet'.
ジョギングの後で汗びっしょりになった。
I was drenched in sweat after jogging.
To be soaked by something other than rain or sweat, or used figuratively.
A suffix meaning 'covered/drenched in' something messy or unpleasant, like mud, blood, or dust. Attach to a noun.
子供たちは泥まみれになって遊んだ。
The kids played and got drenched in mud.
Both mean 'drenched', but ずぶ濡れ emphasizes being soaked through to the skin, while びしょ濡れ often focuses on the dripping wetness and is slightly more casual. They are often interchangeable.
ずぶ濡れで風邪をひいた。
I caught a cold from being drenched.
びしょ濡れの服を着替えた。
I changed out of my drenched clothes.
English 'drenched' can be used broadly, but Japanese often requires a specific expression depending on the liquid or context. Using 濡れる (ぬれる) alone just means 'get wet', not necessarily 'drenched'.
The kids are drenched from playing in the water.
Also means 'be drenched', often with a nuance of being uncomfortably wet and dripping. Slightly more casual than ずぶ濡れ.
傘を忘れてびしょ濡れになった。
I forgot my umbrella and got drenched.
Literally 'become a wet rat', an idiomatic expression for being drenched, often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
彼は嵐の中を歩いて濡れ鼠になった。
He walked through the storm and got drenched like a drowned rat.
Means 'drenched in sweat', often implying a lot of sweat, commonly used in casual speech.
満員電車で汗だくになった。
I got drenched in sweat on the crowded train.
Literally 'become sweat-soaked', a more vivid and slightly literary expression.
彼は汗みずくになって働いていた。
He was working, drenched in sweat.
He was drenched in blood from the accident.
Similar to まみれ but often for things that cover a surface or are scattered, like dust, sand, or mistakes. Can be used for 'drenched' in a loose sense.
本がほこりだらけになった。
The books got drenched in dust.
Can be used metaphorically for being emotionally overwhelmed or 'drenched' in a feeling, though this is less common.
彼は悲しみにずぶ濡れだった。
He was drenched in sorrow.
雨に濡れた。
I got wet in the rain. (not necessarily drenched)
雨に濡れた。
I got wet in the rain. (not necessarily drenched)