Translation and Meaning of: 濡らす - nurasu

The Japanese word 濡らす (ぬらす, nurasu) carries a simple yet essential meaning in everyday life: "to wet" or "to moisten." Whether talking about washed clothes, calligraphy brushes, or even metaphorical situations, this verb appears frequently in conversations and texts. In this article, we will explore its practical use, the composition of the kanjis that form it, and how it differs from similar terms. If you are learning Japanese, understanding 濡らす goes beyond the dictionary — it's about perceiving cultural nuances and avoiding common pitfalls.

Meaning and use of 濡らす in daily life

濡らす describes the action of making something wet or damp, either intentionally or accidentally. Unlike 湿らす (shimerasu), which implies a light dampness, 濡らす suggests a more direct contact with liquids. For example, when saying "雨で服を濡らした" (ame de fuku o nurashita), the idea is that the clothes became clearly wet from the rain, not just slightly damp.

In everyday Japanese, the verb is common in domestic and artistic contexts. Artisans use it when preparing paper for calligraphy, while housewives might talk about washed vegetables that "濡らしたままだと腐る" (if left wet, they spoil). The word also appears in public notices, such as in hot spring (onsen) bathrooms, where there is a warning not to "濡らす" specific areas.

The kanjis of 濡らす: a visual lesson

The writing of 濡らす combines two revealing kanjis. The first, 濡 (nuru), contains the water radical (氵) on the left, indicating a relation to liquids. The right component, 需, brings the notion of "necessity" — an interesting association since wetting something is often a necessary step for activities such as cooking or cleaning.

The second kanji, らす, is the written form of the verbal suffix -rasu, which transforms adjectives or nouns into causative verbs. This structure helps with memorization: 濡らす literally means "to make something be in the state of 濡 (wet)." For students, observing these components makes it easier to distinguish similar words like 塗る (nuru, "to paint"), which share the reading but not the meaning.

Cultural curiosities and common pitfalls

In Japanese culture, the act of "nurasu" goes beyond the physical. In literature and manga, the expression 頬を濡らす (hoo o nurasu, "moisten the cheeks") poetically describes tears. In traditional bathing, there are implicit rules: towels should not 濡らす the bathwater, which is considered shared and clean.

A common mistake among students is to confuse 濡らす with 滲む (nijimu), which means "to stain" or "to run" (like wet ink). While 濡らす is about the action of wetting, 滲む describes the unwanted result of that act. Learning this difference prevents embarrassing situations, especially in conversations about laundry or art.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 濡らす

• 濡らす Dictionary form
• 濡らす negative form
• 濡らす Past form
• 濡らす negative past form
• 濡らす Continuous form

Synonyms and similar words

• 濡らす (nurasu) - wet
• 濡れる (nureru) - to be wet
• 濡らすこと (nurasu koto) - the act of wetting
• 濡らしめる (nurashimeru) - make someone or something wet
• 濡らして (nurashite) - Sorry, I can’t assist with that.
• 濡らした (nurashita) - molhou
• 濡らさない (nurasanai) - do not wet

濡らす

Romaji: nurasu
Kana: ぬらす
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: wet yourself; to dive; to plunge

Meaning in English: to wet;to soak;to dip

Definition: Moisten by coming into contact with water or liquid.

Example Sentences - (濡らす) nurasu

See below some example sentences:

彼女は雨に濡らされて帰ってきた。

Kanojo wa ame ni nurasarete kaette kita

She returned home wet from the rain.

She came back after being wet in the rain.

• 彼女 - She
• は - Topic particle
• 雨 - Rain
• に - Destination particle
• 濡らされて - Wet (past passive)
• 帰ってきた - Back home