Entry
じめっと
jimetto
じめっと (jimetto) describes an uncomfortably damp, clammy, and humid physical state, or a gloomy and depressing mood or personality.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word conveys the physical sensation of excessive, uncomfortable moisture, such as muggy weather, sweaty clinging clothes, or a damp basement. Metaphorically, it is frequently used to describe a heavy, gloomy, or pessimistic atmosphere, mood, or personality. The '-tto' ending gives it a slightly more abrupt or focused feeling compared to the continuous state implied by the repeated form 'jime-jime'.
- Uncomfortable physical dampness
- Gloomy mood or personality
Sense Map
Physical Dampness
Describes an uncomfortable state of being damp, humid, muggy, or clammy.
部屋の中がじめっとする。
Mood and Personality
Describes a gloomy, depressing, or heavy mood, atmosphere, or personality.
じめっとした性格。
Usage Note
How to Use
じめっとする
Used as a verb to express that something (like a room, the air, or a mood) feels uncomfortably damp or gloomy.
じめっとした + noun
Functions as an adjective to modify nouns, describing them as damp or gloomy.
じめっと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe an action done in a damp environment or with a gloomy demeanor.
How to Use
Common Phrases
じめっとする
to feel damp / to feel gloomy
じめっとした日
a damp, muggy day
じめっとした空気
damp air / gloomy atmosphere
じめっとした性格
a gloomy personality
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weather and Environment | negative | Describes high humidity, muggy rooms, or clammy clothes that make you feel physically uncomfortable. |
| Personality and Mood | negative | Describes someone who is gloomy, dwells on negative thoughts, or a room with a heavy, depressing atmosphere. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
じめじめ じめじめ / similar | Use for a continuous, ongoing, and prolonged state of uncomfortable dampness or gloom. | じめっと feels slightly more focused, sudden, or singular due to the tto ending, highlighting the specific state. | じめじめと降り続く雨 |
どんより どんより / similar | Use for heavy, overcast skies or a depressing, gloomy mood without any physical sensation of wetness. | じめっと specifically implies a physical sensation of moisture, stickiness, or dampness. | 空がどんよりと曇る |
じとじと じとじと / similar | Use for a continuous, sticky, and unpleasant wetness, like constant oozing sweat. | じめっと focuses on the general state of mugginess or dampness, whereas じとじと focuses on the unpleasant clinging nature of liquids. | じとじとと汗をかく |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using じめっと for pleasant moisture, like dewy skin or a moist, delicious cake.
Use しっとり (shittori) for positive moisture. じめっと is almost always used for uncomfortable, unpleasant dampness.
Using it to describe heavy, pouring rain.
It describes the nature of the humidity or dampness in the air, not the volume or impact of falling rain.
Examples
Examples
梅雨の時期は、空気がじめっとしている。
つゆのじきは、くうきがじめっとしている。
During the rainy season, the air feels uncomfortably damp.
LiteralDescribes the high humidity of the air.
汗でシャツがじめっと張り付く。
あせでシャツがじめっとはりつく。
The shirt clings clammily due to sweat.
LiteralShows the uncomfortable clammy feeling on the skin.
彼はじめっとした暗い性格だ。
かれはじめっとしたくらいせいかくだ。
He has a gloomy, depressing personality.
FigurativeUsed metaphorically for a cheerless nature.
地下室は一年中じめっとしている。
ちかしつはいちねんじゅうじめっとしている。
The basement feels damp and muggy all year round.
VisualDescribes the condition of a closed, damp room.
教室にじめっとした空気が漂う。
きょうしつにじめっとしたくうきがただよう。
A gloomy, heavy atmosphere hangs in the classroom.
FigurativeDescribes a tense or depressing room atmosphere.
Similar Words
じめじめ
jimejime
Describes an uncomfortably damp, humid environment, or a gloomy, persistently negative personality or mood. Both mean damp and gloomy, but じめじめ emphasizes a continuous, prolonged state.
じとじと
jitojito
じとじと describes an uncomfortable, damp, and clammy state caused by high humidity or sweat. Focuses on a continuous, sticky wetness.
しっとり
shittori
Shittori describes something that is pleasantly moist and soft, or a calm, graceful, and serene atmosphere.
どんより
donyori
Describes a heavy, dark, and gloomy state, such as overcast skies, lifeless eyes, or a depressed mood. Shares the meaning of a gloomy mood or overcast sky without the wet sensation.
Questions
What is the difference between じめっと (jimetto) and じめじめ (jime-jime)?
Both mean damp and gloomy, but jime-jime emphasizes a continuous, prolonged state, while jimetto feels more like a focused, specific state or a sudden realization of the dampness.
Can I use じめっと to describe a moist, delicious cake?
No. じめっと implies an uncomfortable or unpleasant dampness. For pleasant moisture, like a good cake or well-moisturized skin, use しっとり (shittori).
What does it mean if someone has a じめっとした性格?
It means they have a gloomy, depressing, or pessimistic personality, often holding onto negative feelings rather than being cheerful and open.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2861960
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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