露(つゆ)

つゆ
noun
dew, dewdrops
weather
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.

Watch out

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

Common patterns

Usage

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

Compounds

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.

Related Words

Compare: 水滴(すいてき) (water drop, droplet)
general
Added 2026.1.9 21:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
02000/02233_tsuyu