Readings: シツ (Onyomi), しめ.る, しめ.す, うるお.う, うるお.す (Kunyomi)
Meaning: wet, damp, moist
The kanji 湿 is formed by combining the water radical (氵) on the left, which clearly relates to liquids and moisture, and the phonetic component 𠙵 on the right, which suggests something being collected or saturated, giving the overall meaning of wetness or dampness.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 湿 has 12 strokes. It begins with the three strokes of the water radical (氵) on the left. The right side is then drawn starting with the roof-like top, followed by the inner components and finally the enclosing box-like structure. Pay attention to the correct order and direction of each stroke for proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 水 (みず) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Unlisted |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シツ (shitsu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- しめ.る (shimeru)
- しめ.す (shimesu)
- うるお.う (uruou)
- うるお.す (uruosu)
Common Words Using 湿
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 湿度 | しつど | humidity level |
| 湿気 | しっけ | humidity, moisture |
| 湿布 | しっぷ | compress, poultice |
| 湿地 | しっち | wetland, marsh |
| 湿潤 | しつじゅん | moist, humid |
| 高温多湿 | こうおんたしつ | hot and humid |
| 除湿 | じょしつ | dehumidification |
| 乾燥注意報 | かんそうちゅういほう | dry weather advisory |
| 湿性 | しっせい | wet (as in wet cough) |
| 耐湿 | たいしつ | moisture resistance |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 湿る | しめる | to get wet, to become damp |
| 湿す | しめす | to moisten, to dampen |
| 湿っぽい | しめっぽい | dampish, gloomy, sentimental |
| 潤う | うるおう | to be moist, to be enriched |
| 潤す | うるおす | to moisten, to enrich |
| 潤み | うるみ | moisture, tearfulness |
| 潤む | うるむ | to get moist, to get teary-eyed |
| 湿り気 | しめりけ | moisture, dampness |
| 肌が潤う | はだがうるおう | skin becomes moisturized |
| 喉を潤す | のどをうるおす | to wet one’s throat |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 今日は湿度が高いので、洗濯物が乾きにくいです。
Kana: きょうはしつどがたかいので、せんたくものがかわきにくいです。
Romaji: Kyō wa shitsudo ga takai node, sentakumono ga kawaki nikui desu.
English: Today, the humidity is high, so the laundry is difficult to dry.
Japanese: 部屋の湿気が多くて、カビが生えそうです。
Kana: へやのしっけがおおくて、カビがはえそうです。
Romaji: Heya no shikke ga ookute, kabi ga haesō desu.
English: There’s a lot of moisture in the room, so mold is likely to grow.
Japanese: このタオルはまだ少し湿っている。
Kana: このタオルはまだすこししめっている。
Romaji: Kono taoru wa mada sukoshi shimette iru.
English: This towel is still a little damp.
Japanese: 植物に水をやって、土を湿らせた。
Kana: しょくぶつにみずをやって、つちをしめらせた。
Romaji: Shokubutsu ni mizu o yatte, tsuchi o shimeraseta.
English: I watered the plants and moistened the soil.
Japanese: 夏は高温多湿な気候です。
Kana: なつはこうおんたしつなきこうです。
Romaji: Natsu wa kōon tashitsu na kikō desu.
English: Summer has a hot and humid climate.
Japanese: 乾燥しているので、加湿器で部屋を潤す。
Kana: かんそうしているので、かしつきでへやをうるおす。
Romaji: Kansō shite iru node, kashitsuki de heya o uruōsu.
English: It’s dry, so I’ll humidify the room with a humidifier.
Japanese: このクリームは肌を潤す効果があります。
Kana: このクリームははだをうるおすこうかがあります。
Romaji: Kono kurīmu wa hada o uruōsu kōka ga arimasu.
English: This cream has the effect of moisturizing the skin.
Japanese: 梅雨の時期は湿気が多くて不快だ。
Kana: つゆのじきはしっけがおおくてふかいだ。
Romaji: Tsuyu no jiki wa shikke ga ookute fukai da.
English: The rainy season is uncomfortable due to high humidity.
Japanese: 湿地帯には珍しい植物がたくさん生息しています。
Kana: しっちたいにはめずらしいしょくぶつがたくさんせいそくしています。
Romaji: Shicchi-tai ni wa mezurashii shokubutsu ga takusan seisoku shite imasu.
English: Many rare plants inhabit wetlands.
Japanese: 彼は湿っぽい話が好きではない。
Kana: かれはしめっぽいはなしがすきではない。
Romaji: Kare wa shimeppoi hanashi ga suki dewa nai.
English: He doesn’t like gloomy or sentimental stories.
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