濡らす

• Reading: ぬらす
• Romaji: nurasu
• Kanji breakdown: 濡 (nure/ju) — wet, damp, moist
• Pronunciation: /nɯ.ɾa.sɯ/

Meaning

To wet; to moisten; to dampen. To make something wet intentionally or accidentally.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugated with the す row. The transitive pair of 濡れる (to get wet). Used for deliberately wetting something (タオルを濡らす, wet a towel) or accidentally getting something wet. Also used figuratively: 涙で枕を濡らす (to wet one's pillow with tears, meaning to cry at night).

Examples

1. タオルを水で濡らして顔を拭いた。 I wet a towel with water and wiped my face.
2. 急な雨で買い物袋を濡らさないように傘をさした。 I put up an umbrella so the sudden rain wouldn't get my shopping bags wet.
3. のどが乾いたので唇を濡らす程度に水を飲んだ。 I was thirsty, so I drank just enough water to moisten my lips.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, cleaning, weather

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Transitive form derived from 濡れる (to become wet). The kanji 濡 combines 氵(water radical) and 需 (to need), suggesting being in contact with water.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal