にじむ

に

じ

む

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

run; spread; bleed; blot

usually written using kana alone

Describes liquid spreading through a material, such as ink bleeding on paper, dye running, or a stain spreading.

この紙かみはインクがにじみやすい。
Ink tends to bleed on this paper.

涙なみだで手て紙がみの文も字じがにじんでしまった。

The letters on the letter blurred because of tears.

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

blur; become blurred

usually written using kana alone

Used when outlines, images, or boundaries become unclear, often due to moisture, tears, or poor focus.

雨あめで窓まどの外そとの景色けしきがにじんで見みえる。
The view outside the window looks blurred because of the rain.

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

ooze; well up

usually written using kana alone

Typically used for tears, sweat, or other bodily fluids slowly emerging; also for emotions welling up visibly.

彼かの女じょの目めに涙なみだがにじんだ。
Tears welled up in her eyes.

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

show through; reveal itself

usually written using kana alone

Used when feelings, personality, or atmosphere become subtly apparent in someone's expression, voice, or behavior.

彼かれの声こえには不ふ安あんがにじんでいた。
Anxiety showed through in his voice.

Written forms

にじむUsage60%
Usually written in kana; the kanji 滲む is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
滲にじむUsage40%
Kanji form is uncommon; mainly encountered in literary or older texts.

Kanji

滲imbued with

Similar words

しみる
しみる means to soak in or penetrate, often with a lasting effect (e.g., stain, cold, or emotion). にじむ focuses on spreading or blurring outward rather than soaking inward.
ぼやける
ぼやける means to become blurry or out of focus, often due to optical reasons or lack of clarity. にじむ implies blurring caused by moisture or spreading, not just lack of focus.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain, but it may be related to the mimetic root にじ (suggesting stickiness or oozing). The kanji 滲 is a phono-semantic compound with 水 (water) and 參 (to seep), reinforcing the meaning of liquid spreading.