縮(ちぢ)む

ちぢむ
godan verb
to shrink; to contract; to be reduced
1. to shrink; to contract
To become smaller in size, typically of fabric, materials, or physical dimensions.
このセーターは洗(あら)うと縮(ちぢ)む。
This sweater shrinks when washed.
寒(さむ)さで体(からだ)が縮(ちぢ)んだ。
My body contracted from the cold.
乾燥機(かんそうき)に入(い)れたら、シャツが縮(ちぢ)んで着(き)られなくなった。
After I put it in the dryer, the shirt shrank and I couldn't wear it anymore.
2. to be reduced; to decrease
To become smaller in scale, scope, or amount.
会社(かいしゃ)の規模(きぼ)が縮(ちぢ)んでいる。
The company's scale is shrinking.
二人(ふたり)の距離(きょり)がだんだん縮(ちぢ)んできた。
The distance between the two of them gradually narrowed.
不景気(ふけいき)で市場(しじょう)が縮(ちぢ)んでいる。
The market is shrinking due to the recession.
3. to cower; to cringe
To shrink back in fear or discomfort.
大(おお)きな雷(かみなり)の音(おと)に身(み)が縮(ちぢ)んだ。
I cringed at the loud sound of thunder.
恐(おそ)ろしい話(はなし)を聞(き)いて、身(み)が縮(ちぢ)む思(おも)いだった。
Hearing the terrifying story, I felt my skin crawl.
社長(しゃちょう)の前(まえ)に立(た)つと、いつも身(み)が縮(ちぢ)む。
Whenever I stand before the company president, I feel myself shrinking.

縮(ちぢ)む is intransitive (自動詞(じどうし)). The transitive pair is 縮(ちぢ)める (to shrink something).

ASPECT ({ている}):
縮(ちぢ)んでいる indicates a resulting state of having shrunk, not an ongoing process.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • セーターが縮(ちぢ)む (sweater shrinks)
  • 距離(きょり)が縮(ちぢ)む (distance shortens)
  • 身(み)が縮(ちぢ)む (to cringe, feel small)

PARTICLE PATTERNS:

  • ～が縮(ちぢ)む: The subject that shrinks

The related verb 縮(ちぢ)まる also means "to shrink" but emphasizes a more complete or natural contraction. 縮(ちぢ)む is more general.

Related Words

Pair verb: 縮(ちぢ)める (transitive)
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:40
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