痩せる

• Reading: やせる
• Romaji: yaseru
• Kanji breakdown: 痩 (sou/ya) — thin, emaciated
• Pronunciation: /ja.se.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To become thin; to lose weight; to slim down.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb. The opposite is 太る (to gain weight). Can describe intentional dieting or unintentional weight loss. The past form 痩せた is often used as an adjective meaning 'thin.'

Examples

1. 最近少し痩せたみたいだ。 It looks like I've lost a little weight recently.
2. ダイエットして五キロ痩せた。 I went on a diet and lost five kilos.
3. 病気で痩せてしまった。 I ended up losing weight because of an illness.

Usage Guide

Context: health, appearance, dieting

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From classical Japanese. The kanji 痩 contains the illness radical 疒, reflecting the historical association of thinness with poor health.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal