Translation guide
How to express the idea of liquid slowly passing through small openings or pores in Japanese.
Describing liquid slowly leaking or oozing out of a container, surface, or material.
General verb for liquid leaking or escaping from a container or enclosed space. Can be used for water, gas, etc.
Describing liquid being absorbed or penetrating into a material or ground.
Metaphorical use: ideas, news, or emotions slowly becoming known or spreading.
Used metaphorically for ideas, culture, or influence gradually spreading through a group or society.
新しい考え方が社会に浸透してきた。
New ways of thinking have seeped into society.
Both mean 'ooze out', but 染み出る (しみでる) is more common for liquids seeping through a surface, while にじみ出る (にじみでる) often implies a slower, more diffuse spreading, like ink on paper or sweat on skin.
傷口から血が染み出た。
Blood seeped from the wound.
インクが紙ににじみ出た。
The ink seeped into the paper.
漏れる (もれる) means to leak out, not to soak in. For liquid entering something, use 染み込む (しみこむ) or 浸透する (しんとうする).
Water is seeping out of the bucket.
Emphasizes liquid oozing or seeping out gradually, often through a surface or material.
壁から水が染み出ている。
Water is seeping out of the wall.
Similar to 染み出る, but often implies a slower, more subtle oozing, like sweat or ink spreading.
汗が額からにじみ出た。
Sweat seeped out from his forehead.
Liquid soaking or seeping into something, like water into soil or a stain into fabric.
雨水が地面に染み込んだ。
The rainwater seeped into the ground.
More formal or technical term for permeation or infiltration, often used for liquids or ideas spreading through a medium.
水が土壌に浸透する。
Water seeps into the soil.
Common verb for liquid soaking in, often used for stains or liquids penetrating fabric or skin. Can also mean to sting or smart.
コーヒーがカーペットにしみた。
The coffee seeped into the carpet.
Intransitive verb for something spreading or becoming widespread, like rumors or news. Less about 'seeping' and more about general spread.
噂が徐々に広まった。
The rumor gradually seeped out.
Can be used for information leaking out, similar to 'seep' in the sense of confidential info escaping.
秘密が外部に漏れた。
The secret seeped out.