染(し)み

しみ

noun

stain; spot; blemish

1. stain; spot (on fabric)

A mark or discoloration on fabric or other surfaces.

染(し)みを落(お)とす。

To remove a stain.

シャツに染(し)みがついた。

I got a stain on my shirt.

コーヒーの染(し)みがなかなか落(お)ちなくて困(こま)っている。

I'm having trouble getting the coffee stain out.

2. blemish; age spot (on skin)

Spots or marks on the skin, especially from sun exposure or aging.

顔(かお)に染(し)みができた。

I got blemishes on my face.

日焼(ひや)け止(ど)めを塗(ぬ)らないとシミができやすい。

If you don't apply sunscreen, you'll easily get age spots.

年(とし)を取(と)ると手(て)の甲(こう)にシミが出(で)てくることがある。

As you get older, age spots can appear on the backs of your hands too.

染(し)み has two main meanings: stains on fabric or surfaces, and blemishes or age spots on skin. The word covers any kind of discoloration that shouldn't be there.

COMMON PATTERNS (fabric):

染(し)みがつく: to get a stain
染(し)みを落(お)とす: to remove a stain
染(し)み抜(ぬ)き: stain removal
血(ち)の染(し)み: bloodstain

Skin usage

シミができる: to develop age spots
シミ対策(たいさく): anti-blemish measures
シミそばかす: spots and freckles

Writing

When referring to skin blemishes, シミ is commonly written in katakana, especially in cosmetics and skincare contexts. For fabric stains, both 染(し)み and しみ are used.

Similar words

染(し)み: stain, blemish (discoloration)
汚(よご)れ: dirt, grime (general uncleanliness)
傷(きず): scratch, flaw (physical damage)

Related Words

Related: 汚(よご)れ (dirt, grime)

Related: 傷(きず) (scratch, flaw)

Related: そばかす (freckles)

Compare: 美白効果(びはくこうか) (skin-whitening effect)

Compare: 色素(しきそ)沈着(ちんちゃく) (pigmentation)

general

Added 2026.1.16 15:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

05000/05426_shimi