Entry
しみじみ
shimijimi
Describes a feeling that sinks deeply into one's heart, or a quiet, earnest atmosphere.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word is used to express emotions, realizations, or thoughts that are felt keenly and deeply. It can also describe actions done in a calm, earnest, and heartfelt manner, such as having a heart-to-heart conversation or gazing reflectively at something.
- Feeling emotions or realizations deeply
- Conversing quietly and earnestly
- Gazing at something reflectively
Sense Map
Deep Emotion and Realization
Feeling something, such as gratitude or sorrow, keenly and deeply in one's heart.
親のありがたみをしみじみと感じる
Earnest Communication
Talking in a calm, honest, and heartfelt atmosphere.
友としみじみ語り合う
Reflective Gazing
Looking at something for a long time with admiration, reflection, or deep attention.
鏡の自分をしみじみ見る
Usage Note
How to Use
しみじみ（と）+ verb
Used as an adverb to describe that an action (feeling, thinking, gazing) is done with profound sentiment.
しみじみする
Used as a verb to describe a state of being filled with quiet emotion, being moved, or feeling sentimental.
How to Use
Common Phrases
しみじみと思う
to think deeply or reflect on
しみじみと感じる
to feel keenly or deeply
しみじみ語る
to talk earnestly and quietly
しみじみ見る
to gaze intently with emotion
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reflecting on the past | positive or sentimental | Perfect for expressing being moved, feeling nostalgic, or appreciating the past. |
| Talking with an old friend | neutral | Creates a sense of an intimate, calm, and genuine conversation. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
つくづく つくづく / similar | Use when realizing a fact deeply and repeatedly, often accompanied by a sense of weariness, resignation, or objective realization. | Not as warm or sentimental as しみじみ. つくづく is often used for realizations born from long, sometimes negative, experiences. | 自分の嫌な性格をつくづく感じる |
じっと じっと / contrast | Use to describe the physical state of remaining motionless, enduring something, or focusing a sharp, unwavering gaze. | Only describes the physical state without implying the deep, lingering emotions or reflection present in しみじみ. | 痛みをじっと我慢する |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it merely to mean doing something at a low volume or silently.
Use 静かに for low volume. しみじみ must always involve a feeling that sinks into the heart.
Using it for sudden, explosive anger or joy.
This word carries a nuance of calm, reflective, and lingering emotion.
Examples
Examples
親になって初めて、両親のありがたみをしみじみと感じた。
おやになってはじめて、りょうしんのありがたみをしみじみとかんじた。
Only after becoming a parent for the first time did I deeply feel gratitude toward my own parents.
FigurativeShows a strong emotional realization that sinks into the heart after experiencing something oneself.
居酒屋で昔の友達と朝までしみじみ語り合った。
いざかやでむかしのともだちとあさまでしみじみがたりあった。
I talked earnestly with an old friend at an izakaya until morning.
LiteralDescribes the atmosphere of a calm, intimate, and heart-to-heart conversation.
鏡に映る自分の顔をしみじみと見た。
かがみにうつるじぶんのかおをしみじみとみた。
I gazed intently and reflectively at my own face reflected in the mirror.
VisualFocuses on the act of looking accompanied by deep thought, such as realizing signs of aging.
秋の夜長に温かいお茶を飲んで、しみじみする。
あきのよながにあたたかいおちゃをのんで、しみじみする。
Drinking warm tea on a long autumn night puts me in a quiet, sentimental mood.
FigurativeUsed as a verb to express a calm, emotionally rich state of mind.
彼の苦労話を聞いて、しみじみと同情した。
かれのくろうばなしをきいて、しみじみとどうじょうした。
Listening to the story of his hardships, I felt a deep sympathy for him.
LiteralShows earnest empathy or pity from the bottom of one's heart.
Similar Words
つくづく
tsukuzuku
"Tsukuzuku" means to deeply feel or realize something, often after careful reflection or extended observation. Similar, but tsukuzuku often involves repeated realization, sometimes with a weary or negative tone.
じっと
jitto
Jitto (じっと) means keeping the body completely still, fixing one's attention unblinkingly on something, or patiently enduring a situation without reacting. Jitto means focused and motionless (physically), while shimijimi is looking with heartfelt reflection.
ジーンと
jiinto
Describes a profound emotional resonance that touches the heart deeply, or a physical sensation of lingering numbness and stinging pain.
Questions
Can しみじみ be used for negative situations?
Yes, such as deeply lamenting one's fate or realizing one's flaws, as long as the feeling is quiet, deep, and lingering.
What is the difference between しみじみ looking and じっと looking?
しみじみ looking means gazing with deep emotion or reflection, while じっと looking means a physical, focused stare without moving.
Is the particle と required after しみじみ?
No, it is optional. You can say either しみじみ思う or しみじみと思う.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1005610
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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