Entry
じめじめ
jimejime
Describes an uncomfortably damp, humid environment, or a gloomy, persistently negative personality or mood.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word is used to describe an unpleasant, sticky dampness in the air or on the skin, typically associated with the rainy season or poorly ventilated rooms. Figuratively, it describes a person's disposition or mood when they are being persistently gloomy, brooding over the past, or complaining without moving forward.
- Uncomfortably damp, humid, and sticky physical conditions.
- A brooding, gloomy, and persistently negative disposition.
Sense Map
Physical Dampness
Describes environments, weather, or objects that hold a high amount of moisture, making them feel clammy, sticky, and uncomfortable.
じめじめした部屋
Gloomy Mood
Describes a personality or emotional state that is persistently pessimistic, complaining, or dwelling on negative things.
じめじめと悩む
Usage Note
How to Use
じめじめする
Used as a verb to state that a place is currently damp/humid, or a person is acting gloomy.
じめじめした + noun
Used to modify a noun, describing it as having a damp or gloomy quality (e.g., じめじめした空気 - damp air).
じめじめと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe an action done in a brooding, lingering, or gloomy manner (e.g., じめじめと泣く - to weep gloomily for a long time).
How to Use
Common Phrases
じめじめする
to be damp / to be gloomy
じめじめした空気
damp, muggy air
じめじめした性格
a gloomy, brooding personality
じめじめと降る雨
persistent, dampening rain
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weather & Environment | negative | Extremely common during the Japanese rainy season (Tsuyu) to complain about the sticky, oppressive humidity. |
| Personality | negative | Used to criticize someone who won't let go of past grievances or who brings down the mood with constant pessimism. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
じとじと じとじと / similar | Used when describing a heavier, seeping wetness on the skin or ground, often feeling stickier. | じとじと focuses more on the physical liquid or sweat clinging to you, whereas じめじめ covers the overall heavy humidity of the air as well. | 汗でじとじとする |
からっと からっと / opposite | Used to describe pleasantly dry, sunny weather, or a bright, cheerful, ungrudging personality. | The direct opposite of じめじめ, always carrying a refreshing and positive tone. | カラッとした天気 |
どんより どんより / similar | Used to describe thick overcast skies, heavy air, or dull, lifeless eyes. | どんより is visual and atmospheric (grey skies, heavy feeling) but does not necessarily imply the tactile wetness/humidity of じめじめ. | 空がどんよりと曇る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using じめじめ to describe spilling a glass of water on the floor.
Use びしょびしょ or 濡れている. じめじめ refers to ambient humidity or dampness, not a puddle of liquid.
Using じめじめ to compliment a well-moisturized cake or skin.
Use しっとり (shittori) for pleasant, desirable moisture. じめじめ sounds like the cake is soggy and gross.
Examples
Examples
梅雨の時期は毎日じめじめして不快だ。
つゆ の じき は まいにち じめじめ して ふかい だ。
During the rainy season, it's damp every day and uncomfortable.
LiteralThe most common example describing the humid weather during Japan's rainy season (Tsuyu).
風通しが悪く、部屋がじめじめしている。
かぜとおし が わるく、へや が じめじめ している。
The ventilation is poor, so the room feels damp and stuffy.
LiteralDescribes the physical condition of a damp room.
服が汗でじめじめとまとわりつく。
ふく が あせ で じめじめ と まとわりつく。
My clothes cling to me clammily from sweat.
LiteralFocuses on the tactile sticky sensation on the skin due to moisture and sweat.
彼はじめじめした性格で、いつも文句を言っている。
かれ は じめじめ した せいかく で、いつも もんく を いっている。
He has a gloomy personality and is always complaining.
FigurativeFigurative use to describe a negative personality that struggles to be cheerful.
過去の失敗をいつまでもじめじめ悩むのはやめよう。
かこ の しっぱい を いつまでも じめじめ なやむ の は やめよう。
Let's stop gloomily brooding over past failures forever.
FigurativeUsed as an adverb to describe the action of dwelling too much on negative things.
Similar Words
じとじと
jitojito
Similar, but leans more towards seeping liquid or sticky sweat.
どんより
donyori
Describes a heavy, dark, and gloomy state, such as overcast skies, lifeless eyes, or a depressed mood. Describes overcast skies, heavy air, or a dull facial expression (visual).
からっと
karatto
"Karatto" is an adverb describing weather or air that is refreshingly dry, food that is pleasantly cooked, or an attitude that is frank and clear. Opposite: dry and refreshing, or a cheerful, ungrudging personality.
Questions
Can I use じめじめ for wet hair?
No. Wet hair from a shower is 濡れている or びしょびしょ. You might use じめじめ if your scalp feels gross and clammy from sweat, but not for clean, wet hair.
What is the difference between じめじめ and じめっと?
じめっと (jimetto) describes a sudden or singular sensation of dampness or gloom, while じめじめ (jimejime) describes a continuous, lingering state of being damp or gloomy.
Is じめじめ ever a good thing?
No, it is universally used to describe uncomfortable, unwanted moisture or negative, depressing moods.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1005890
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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