湿润

• Pinyin: shī rùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 湿 = 氵(water) + 显 (phonetic — visible); 润 = 氵(water) + 闰 (intercalary, surplus — phonetic)

Meaning

Moist; damp; humid. Pleasantly or adequately wet — not excessively so.

Unlike 潮湿 (which carries a negative connotation of excess dampness or stuffiness), 湿润 is generally positive or neutral, suggesting a healthy, comfortable level of moisture. Used for climate, soil, eyes, skin, and air. Common collocations: 气候湿润 (humid climate), 土壤湿润 (moist soil), 眼眶湿润 (eyes moist with emotion), 皮肤湿润 (moist skin).

Examples

1. 这片山谷气候湿润，四季植被茂盛，是众多珍稀动植物赖以生存的天然家园。 This valley has a humid climate and lush vegetation year-round, making it a natural home for many rare plants and animals.
2. 他听到母亲讲述往事时，眼眶不禁湿润起来，久久无法平静。 As he listened to his mother talk about the past, his eyes couldn’t help but well up, and he couldn’t calm down for a long time.
3. 护肤品广告强调其成分能锁住肌肤水分，让皮肤长时间保持湿润细腻的状态。 The skincare ad highlights that its ingredients lock in moisture, keeping skin hydrated and smooth for a long time.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, climate, emotions, skincare, agriculture

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 云南西双版纳的热带雨林气候湿润温暖，孕育了中国境内种类最为丰富的野生动植物群落。(The tropical rainforest climate of Xishuangbanna in Yunnan is warm and moist, nurturing the most species-rich wild flora and fauna community within China.)
• 演讲结束时，台下的听众已泣不成声，就连主持人也眼眶湿润，不得不停顿片刻才重新开口。(By the end of the speech, the audience in the hall were sobbing; even the host's eyes had grown moist and they had to pause for a moment before speaking again.)

Don't Say

• 湿润 and 潮湿 interchangeably — 潮湿 implies uncomfortable excess dampness (e.g. a damp basement), while 湿润 implies a comfortable, healthy moisture level; using 潮湿 for eyes or skin sounds unnatural

Origin & History

湿 (wet, moist) + 润 (smooth, moist, to moisten)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal