Entry
びっしょり
bisshori
Completely drenched or soaked through, usually by sweat or rain.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Bisshori describes a state where something or someone is thoroughly wet to the core. It is especially common when describing clothes that are completely soaked with heavy sweat or from being caught in the rain.
- Soaked in sweat
- Drenched by rain
Sense Map
Soaked in sweat
A state where clothes or the body are completely wet from sweating heavily.
シャツが汗でびっしょりだ。
Drenched by rain or water
A state of being severely wet all over due to being caught in the rain or falling in water.
突然の雨でびっしょり濡れた。
Usage Note
How to Use
びっしょり濡れる
Used with the verb nureru to indicate being completely drenched.
汗びっしょりになる
Combined with the noun for sweat (ase) to express becoming soaked in sweat.
びっしょりだ
A direct declarative form at the end of a sentence to state that something is completely soaked.
びっしょりと + 動詞
Used with the particle to before a verb to describe how thoroughly something got wet.
How to Use
Common Phrases
汗びっしょりになる
to become soaked in sweat
びっしょり濡れる
to get completely drenched
びっしょり汗をかく
to sweat profusely
びっしょりだ
is completely soaked
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sweating from exercise or nervousness | neutral | Very common in the phrase ase bisshori. It implies a large volume of sweat that has soaked into clothes or skin. |
| Caught in the rain | negative | Implies that the water has completely saturated the clothing, making the person very uncomfortable. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぐっしょり ぐっしょり / similar | Use gusshori to emphasize a heavier, thicker wetness, as if water could be wrung out of it. | Gusshori feels more extreme in liquid volume compared to bisshori. | 汗でぐっしょり濡れる |
びしょびしょ びしょびしょ / similar | Use bishobisho when the wet state creates a messy, uncomfortable, or continuously dripping environment. | Bishobisho often gives a sloppier impression over a wide area, not just absorbed moisture. | 服がびしょびしょだ |
しっとり しっとり / opposite | Use shittori for light, gentle, and often aesthetically pleasing moisture (like skin or cake). | Shittori means pleasantly moist, while bisshori means thoroughly drenched. | しっとりした肌 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using bisshori to describe a slightly damp towel.
Bisshori means fully saturated. Use other words if it is only slightly damp.
Using bisshori to compliment healthy skin moisture in beauty contexts.
Bisshori sounds like the skin is drenched in sweat. Use shittori for pleasantly moisturized skin.
Examples
Examples
走ったので、服が汗でびっしょりだ。
走ったので、服が汗でびっしょりだ。 [はしったので、ふくがあせでびっしょりだ。]
I ran, so my clothes are soaked in sweat.
LiteralA classic example involving sweat.
突然の雨で、髪の毛までびっしょり濡れた。
突然の雨で、髪の毛までびっしょり濡れた。 [とつぜんのあめで、かみのけまでびっしょりぬれた。]
Caught in sudden rain, even my hair got thoroughly drenched.
LiteralOften used to describe the impact of being caught in rain.
熱が下がり、パジャマがびっしょりになった。
熱が下がり、パジャマがびっしょりになった。 [ねつがさがり、ぱじゃまがびっしょりになった。]
The fever broke, and my pajamas became thoroughly soaked.
LiteralDescribes sweat soaking into clothes from a fever.
干していた洗濯物が落ちて、びっしょりだ。
干していた洗濯物が落ちて、びっしょりだ。 [ほしていたせんたくものがおちて、びっしょりだ。]
The laundry that was hanging out to dry fell and got completely soaked.
VisualCan be applied to objects that are capable of absorbing water.
緊張して、手にびっしょり汗をかいた。
緊張して、手にびっしょり汗をかいた。 [きんちょうして、てにびっしょりあせをかいた。]
I was so nervous that my hands were dripping with sweat.
FigurativeA figurative extension indicating a heavy sweat response driven by emotion.
Similar Words
ぐっしょり
gusshori
Describes a state of being thoroughly and heavily soaked, usually describing clothes or hair saturated with liquid. Means soaking wet with a nuance of even heavier, thicker liquid weight.
びしょびしょ
bishobisho
Bishobisho describes a state of being completely soaked or thoroughly drenched. Used when the wet state creates a messy, dripping, or continuously uncomfortable environment.
しっとり
shittori
Shittori describes something that is pleasantly moist and soft, or a calm, graceful, and serene atmosphere. Indicates a gentle, pleasant dampness or moisture.
Questions
Can I use bisshori for slightly damp hair?
No, bisshori means completely drenched. For slightly damp things, it is better to use other words.
What is the difference between bisshori and gusshori?
Gusshori often implies a heavier, thicker saturation with water, sometimes feeling even wetter or heavier than bisshori.
Is this word only used for people?
No, it can also be used for objects that absorb liquid, such as laundry or clothes thoroughly soaked by rain.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1010760
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- びしょびしょ (bishobisho)
- Next entry
- びっしり (bisshiri)