ずぶ濡れ

• Reading: ずぶぬれ
• Romaji: zubunure
• Kanji breakdown: 濡 (nu/nure) — wet, damp
• Pronunciation: /zɯ.bɯ.nɯ.ɾe/

Meaning

Soaking wet; completely drenched; dripping wet. Describes a state of being saturated with water from head to toe.

A compound of ずぶ (an emphatic prefix meaning 'completely/utterly') and 濡れ (nure, wetness). Used as a noun or adjectival noun (ずぶ濡れになる, to get soaked; ずぶ濡れの状態, in a soaking-wet state). The prefix ずぶ intensifies the wetness beyond ordinary 濡れた to the point of being dripping wet. Often combined with 全身 (all over the body) for additional emphasis.

Examples

1. 傘を持たずに外出したせいで夕立に遭い、ずぶ濡れになってしまった。 Because I went out without an umbrella, I got caught in a sudden evening shower and ended up completely soaked.
2. 川で溺れかけた子どもを助けた彼は、ずぶ濡れのまま岸に立っていた。 Having saved a child who was nearly drowning in the river, he stood on the bank dripping wet.
3. 試合後のグラウンドで選手たちは汗と雨でずぶ濡れになりながら健闘を称え合った。 After the match, the players stood on the rain-soaked pitch, drenched in sweat and rain, exchanging words of mutual respect.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, outdoors, daily life, narrative description

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The emphatic prefix ずぶ is of uncertain origin but appears in several compounds (ずぶずぶ, ずぶとい) to convey the idea of being thoroughly immersed or penetrated. 濡れ derives from the verb 濡れる (nureru, to get wet). Together they form a vivid expression of complete saturation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal