Entry
びしょびしょ
bishobisho
Bishobisho describes a state of being completely soaked or thoroughly drenched.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
The mimetic word bishobisho is used to express extreme wetness, such as clothes soaked from heavy rain or sweat. It can also describe the state of continuous, drizzling rain that leaves everything wet.
- completely soaked
- drenched with sweat or water
- incessant rain
Sense Map
Soaked / Drenched
Describes a state where someone or something is completely soaked with liquid, making them uncomfortably wet.
服がびしょびしょになる。
Incessant Rain
Describes rain that falls continuously and makes everything thoroughly wet.
雨がびしょびしょと降る。
Usage Note
How to Use
びしょびしょになる
Expresses the change of state into becoming completely soaked.
びしょびしょに濡れる
Used with the verb nureru (to get wet) to emphasize getting thoroughly drenched.
びしょびしょの + Noun
Used to modify a noun, describing it as soaking wet.
びしょびしょだ
A direct statement that something is completely soaked.
How to Use
Common Phrases
びしょびしょになる
to become soaking wet
びしょびしょに濡れる
to get drenched
汗でびしょびしょ
soaked with sweat
びしょびしょの服
soaking wet clothes
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Getting caught in the rain | negative | Implies the discomfort of clothes sticking to the skin because they are completely saturated. |
| Sweating after intense activity | neutral | Describes clothes heavy with sweat, emphasizing the volume of the liquid. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
びっしょり びっしょり / similar | Used for being heavily drenched, often with sweat after working hard or exercising. | Focuses on the volume of liquid (like sweat) without necessarily carrying the messy or uncomfortable dripping nuance of bishobisho. | 汗をびっしょりかいた。 |
ぐしゃぐしゃ ぐしゃぐしゃ / similar | Used when something is completely ruined, crushed, or turned into a sloppy mess by water. | Focuses on the loss of shape and messy state (like muddy shoes or wet paper) rather than just being wet. | 雪で靴がぐしゃぐしゃだ。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for mild dampness.
Use it only when something is extremely soaked or dripping wet. For slight dampness, use words like shittori or shimette iru.
Using it for heavy, pouring rain sounds.
While it describes the result of getting wet or incessant drizzling, the sound of heavy downpours is better described with zaa-zaa.
Examples
Examples
雨に降られて、服がびしょびしょになった。
あめに ふられて、 ふくが びしょびしょに なった。
My clothes got soaking wet from the rain.
VisualDescribes clothes that are soaking wet from the rain.
走ったので、シャツが汗でびしょびしょだ。
はしったので、 シャツが あせで びしょびしょだ。
Because I ran, my shirt is soaked with sweat.
VisualA state of heavy sweating after exercise.
こぼした水で床がびしょびしょに濡れている。
こぼした みずで ゆかが びしょびしょに ぬれている。
The floor is soaking wet from the spilled water.
VisualA floor that is flooded with a lot of spilled water.
傘を忘れて、髪の毛までびしょびしょです。
かさを わすれて、 かみのけまで びしょびしょです。
I forgot my umbrella, so even my hair is completely drenched.
VisualA state where hair is so wet that water is dripping from it.
雑巾がびしょびしょなので、少し絞ってください。
ぞうきんが びしょびしょなので、 すこし しぼって ください。
The rag is sopping wet, so please wring it out a little.
VisualDescribes a cloth that has absorbed too much water.
Similar Words
びっしょり
bisshori
Completely drenched or soaked through, usually by sweat or rain. More commonly used for heavy sweat without the messy or uncomfortable nuance.
ぐしゃぐしゃ
gushagusha
Completely soaked, severely crushed out of shape, or thoroughly messy and disorganized. Emphasizes the loss of shape due to being wet, like soggy paper or mud.
ビシャビシャ
bishabisha
Describes a state of being completely soaked, a slushy surface, or the sound of splashing water.
ぐっしょり
gusshori
Describes a state of being thoroughly and heavily soaked, usually describing clothes or hair saturated with liquid.
Questions
Can I use bishobisho for a damp towel?
No. Bishobisho is reserved for things that are extremely soaked and dripping water. If it is just damp, it is not bishobisho.
Is bishobisho a bad thing?
It usually carries an uncomfortable nuance, like being caught in the rain without an umbrella, but it is neutral when just objectively stating a wet state.
What is the difference between bishobisho and bisshori?
Both mean completely wet, but bisshori is often used for sweat and sounds slightly less messy or negative than bishobisho.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1010750
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- びしびし (bishibishi)
- Next entry
- びっしょり (bisshori)