縮れる

• Reading: ちぢれる
• Romaji: chidireru
• Kanji breakdown: 縮 (shuku/chidi) — shrink, curl, contract
• Pronunciation: /tɕi.dʑi.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To be wavy; to be curled; to be frizzled. Describes hair or fibres that have a naturally kinked or curly texture.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb primarily used for describing curly or frizzy hair texture. Also applies to yarn, wool, or other fibres that have a crimped quality. Often appears in the te-iru form (縮れている) to describe an ongoing state rather than a change.

Examples

1. 彼女の髪は自然に縮れている。 Her hair is naturally curly.
2. 湿気が多いと髪が縮れてしまう。 When it's humid, my hair gets frizzy.
3. この毛糸は縮れやすいので優しく洗ってください。 This yarn tends to frizz, so please wash it gently.

Usage Guide

Context: hair care, appearance, textiles

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

Derived from the same root as 縮む (to shrink) and 縮まる (to contract). The れる ending gives it a spontaneous or natural-state nuance, describing something that has become curled on its own.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal