霞かすむ

か

す

む

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

become misty; become hazy

usually written using kana alone

Describes landscapes, views, or the air becoming obscured by mist, fog, or haze. Often used for natural scenery.

遠とおくの山やまが霞かすんで見みえる。
The distant mountains look hazy.
朝あさもやで景色けしきが霞かすんでいる

。

The scenery is misty with morning fog.

2

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

get blurry; grow dim

usually written using kana alone

Used for vision, light, or outlines becoming unclear. The kanji 翳む is specific to this sense but rare; 霞む or kana is more common.

涙なみだで視し界かいが霞かすんだ。
My vision blurred with tears.
明あかりが霞かすんで見みえる。
The light looks dim.

3

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

be overshadowed; be outshone

usually written using kana alone

Figurative use: someone or something is made to seem less important or impressive by comparison. Often used with ～に霞む.

彼かれの才さい能のうは先せん輩ぱいの前まえに霞かすんでしまった。
His talent was overshadowed by his senior's.
新しん作さくの人にん気きに霞かすんで、旧きゅう作さくは忘わすれられた。
The old work was forgotten, outshone by the popularity of the new one.

Written forms

霞かすむUsage44%
Standard kanji spelling for mist, haze, and overshadowing senses. Preferred in formal writing.
かすむUsage56%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing.
翳かすむ
Rare kanji variant specifically for blurriness or dimness of vision or light. Not used for mist or overshadowing.

Kanji

霞be hazy, grow dim, blurred
翳hold aloft

Similar words

曇くもる
曇る means to become cloudy (sky, glass, mirror) or gloomy (expression). 霞む focuses on haziness or blurring due to mist, distance, or tears, not cloudiness.
ぼやける
ぼやける is a more casual, general term for blurriness (focus, memory, boundaries). 霞む often implies a veil-like haziness from mist, tears, or dim light.

Etymology

Derived from the noun 霞 (kasumi, 'mist, haze') with the verbal suffix む. The kanji 霞 is used for mist-related meanings, while 翳 is a rare variant for dimness or blurriness.