潤す

• Reading: うるおす
• Romaji: uruosu
• Kanji breakdown: 潤 (jun/uruoi) — moist, enrich, profit; 氵 (water radical)
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ɾɯ.o.sɯ/

Meaning

To moisten; to enrich; to benefit. Covers both literal moistening of dry land or a parched throat, and figurative enrichment of the spirit, culture, or economy.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated on the -s stem. The transitive counterpart of 潤う (uruou, to become moist/enriched). In its literal sense it describes rain or water bringing relief to dryness. Figuratively, it describes anything that brings richness, nourishment, or benefit — from arts enriching the soul to commerce benefiting a region. The positive, life-giving connotation is consistent across both senses.

Examples

1. 久しぶりの雨が干上がった大地を潤した。 The long-awaited rain moistened the parched earth.
2. 文化芸術は人々の心を潤す力を持っている。 Culture and the arts have the power to enrich people's hearts.
3. 地域経済を潤すために、観光振興に力を入れている。 They are focusing on promoting tourism to boost the local economy.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, culture, economics, literature

Tone: positive

Origin & History

From Old Japanese うるほす (uruhosu), the transitive form of うるほふ (to become moist). The kanji 潤 (jun/uruoi) combines the water radical 氵 with 閏 (extra intercalary, suggesting overflow), evoking abundance and moisture.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal