Translation guide
The English phrase 'sink into' has several distinct meanings, from physical immersion to mental absorption. This guide breaks them down by intended meaning, providing natural Japanese equivalents for each use.
To descend or become submerged in a liquid or soft material like mud, snow, or water.
General verb for sinking into a liquid or soft substance. Intransitive.
Transitive verb: to sink something into a liquid or soft substance.
彼はおもりを水に沈めた。
He sank the weight into the water.
To sink into and get stuck in a soft surface, like mud or a mattress. Emphasizes being embedded.
タイヤがぬかるみにめり込んだ。
The tires sank into the mud.
To be absorbed or gradually penetrate into a surface or material, like lotion into skin or water into soil.
For liquids or smells soaking into something. Often used for lotions, water into ground, or odors into fabric.
化粧水が肌に染み込んだ。
The toner sank into my skin.
雨が地面に染み込んだ。
The rain sank into the ground.
More formal/technical term for permeation or osmosis. Used for liquids, ideas, or policies spreading through something.
水が土壌に浸透した。
Water sank into the soil.
To become deeply engrossed in thought, a mood, or an activity, often with a sense of gradual immersion.
Attach to a noun indicating what one is absorbed in (e.g., 考えにふける 'sink into thought', 思い出にふける 'sink into memories').
彼は物思いにふけっていた。
He was sinking into deep thought.
彼女は読書にふけっている。
She is sinking into her book.
Literally 'soak in', used for immersing oneself in an atmosphere, emotion, or experience (e.g., 幸福感に浸る 'sink into happiness').
彼は幸福感に浸っていた。
He was sinking into a feeling of happiness.
Can be used metaphorically for sinking into a depressed state or deep thought, but less common than ふける.
To gradually enter a state like sleep, silence, or despair.
Used for falling into a negative state or condition (e.g., 混乱に陥る 'sink into chaos', 絶望に陥る 'sink into despair').
A common phrase for 'sink into sleep' or 'fall asleep'.
彼女は深い眠りに落ちた。
She sank into a deep sleep.
For 'sink into silence', a more literary expression meaning 'be enveloped in silence'.
部屋は静寂に包まれた。
The room sank into silence.
To press or embed something sharp into a surface or flesh.
Used for teeth, claws, or sharp objects biting or digging into something.
犬の歯が彼の腕に食い込んだ。
The dog's teeth sank into his arm.
For something sharp piercing or sticking into something, like claws or a knife.
爪が肉に突き刺さった。
The claws sank into the flesh.
To settle comfortably into a soft seat, like a sofa or armchair.
Often used for sinking into a soft chair or bed, emphasizing the feeling of being enveloped.
彼はソファに沈み込んだ。
He sank into the sofa.
Literally 'sink one's body into', a slightly more literary way to say settle into a chair or bath.
彼はアームチェアに身を沈めた。
He sank into the armchair.
English 'sink into thought' cannot be directly translated as 考えに沈む. Use 考えにふける or 物思いにふける instead. 沈む is primarily physical.
沈む is for objects sinking into a liquid or soft substance (ship, feet). 染み込む is for liquids or smells being absorbed into a material (lotion, rain into soil).
彼は憂鬱な気分に沈み込んだ。
He sank into a gloomy mood.