露(つゆ)

つゆ
noun
dew, dewdrops
See also: 梅雨(つゆ) (rainy season)
1. dew
Moisture that forms on surfaces at night.
草(くさ)に露(つゆ)が降(お)りている。
Dew has formed on the grass.
朝露(あさつゆ)に濡(ぬ)れた花(はな)が綺麗(きれい)だった。
The flowers wet with morning dew were beautiful.
秋(あき)の朝(あさ)は露(つゆ)が多(おお)くて、庭(にわ)の草(くさ)や花(はな)が濡(ぬ)れていることが多(おお)い。
On autumn mornings, there's a lot of dew, and the grass and flowers in the garden are often wet.
2. tiny amount
A very small quantity (figurative).
露(つゆ)ほども疑(うたが)わない。
I don't doubt it in the slightest.
露(つゆ)ほども〜ない means 'not even the tiniest bit.'
そんなことは露(つゆ)ほども知(し)らなかった。
I didn't know anything about that at all.
彼(かれ)が嘘(うそ)をついているとは露(つゆ)ほども思(おも)わなかったので、本当(ほんとう)のことを聞(き)いて驚(おどろ)いた。
I never suspected in the slightest that he was lying, so I was shocked when I heard the truth.

露(つゆ) means dew—water droplets that form on surfaces overnight.

HOMOPHONE:
露(つゆ) (dew) and 梅雨(つゆ) (rainy season) have the same pronunciation but different kanji and meanings.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 露(つゆ)が降(お)りる: dew forms/falls
  • 露(つゆ)に濡(ぬ)れる: to get wet with dew

FIGURATIVE USE:

露(つゆ)ほども〜ない means 'not even a tiny bit':

  • 露(つゆ)ほども知(し)らない: I don't know at all
  • 露(つゆ)ほども疑(うたが)わない: I don't doubt in the slightest

COMPOUNDS:

  • 朝露(あさつゆ): morning dew
  • 露天(ろてん): open-air, outdoor
  • 露天(ろてん)風呂(ぶろ): outdoor bath

LITERARY NOTE:
Dew is a classic image in Japanese poetry (和歌(わか), 俳句(はいく)), symbolizing transience and the fleeting nature of life.

general
Added 2026.1.9 21:03 · Revised 2026.3.22 11:48
02000/02233_tsuyu