Translation guide
The English verb 'ooze' has two core meanings: (1) a liquid slowly seeping out, and (2) a person or thing exuding a quality or feeling strongly. Japanese uses different verbs for these, and the second meaning often requires figurative expressions.
Describing a thick liquid, mud, or moisture slowly flowing or leaking out from something.
Most common and natural for liquids oozing out gradually, like water, blood, or sap. Intransitive.
Describing a person, place, or thing that seems to radiate a particular quality, like confidence, charm, or menace, often in a way that feels overwhelming or very noticeable.
Figurative use of にじみ出る. The quality naturally seeps out from the person or thing. Often used with abstract nouns like 自信 (confidence) or 優しさ (kindness).
彼の言葉からは自信がにじみ出ていた。
Confidence oozed from his words.
You cannot say 彼は自信がにじみ出ている (He is oozing confidence) with the person as the subject. Instead, the quality itself is the subject, and the source is marked with から (from). Use 彼から自信がにじみ出ている.
彼から自信がにじみ出ている。
Confidence oozes from him.
にじみ出る emphasizes the gradual emergence of liquid, often from a specific point. しみ出る emphasizes soaking through a material. For figurative use, only にじみ出る is common.
切り傷から血がにじみ出た。
Blood oozed from the cut.
その古い家は魅力にあふれていた。
The old house oozed charm.
傷口から血がにじみ出ている。
Blood is oozing from the wound.
壁から水がにじみ出ていた。
Water was oozing out of the wall.
Similar to にじみ出る but often implies soaking through a surface, like moisture seeping through cloth or paper. Intransitive.
汗がシャツにしみ出ている。
Sweat is oozing through the shirt.
Often used for liquid, color, or smell seeping out and spreading. Can be transitive or intransitive.
インクが紙に染み出した。
Ink oozed into the paper.
Technical/medical term for exudation or oozing of bodily fluids. Used in formal or scientific contexts.
傷口から滲出液が出ている。
Exudate is oozing from the wound.
彼女の笑顔には優しさがにじみ出ている。
Kindness oozes from her smile.
Literally 'to let (a quality) drift/hang in the air'. Used when someone intentionally or unintentionally exudes an atmosphere or feeling, often negative like menace or sadness.
彼は危険な雰囲気を漂わせている。
He oozes a dangerous aura.
その部屋は悲しみを漂わせていた。
The room oozed sadness.
Means 'to be overflowing with (a quality)'. Stronger than ooze, but often used in similar contexts for positive qualities.
彼女は魅力にあふれている。
She oozes charm.
Colloquial, meaning 'completely exposed/showing'. Used when someone blatantly displays a quality, often negative, like arrogance or greed. Rough nuance.
あいつは欲まる出しだ。
He just oozes greed.