じめじめ

じめじめ
adverb, verb (suru)
damp, humid, gloomy
1. damp, humid, clammy
Unpleasantly moist atmosphere or condition.
梅雨(つゆ)時期(じき)はじめじめする。
It gets damp during the rainy season.
じめじめした場所(ばしょ)にカビが()える。
Mold grows in damp places.
2. gloomy, depressing
Dark and cheerless atmosphere or mood.
じめじめした(はなし)はやめよう。
Let's stop talking about depressing things.

じめじめ is an onomatopoeic word describing unpleasant dampness or a gloomy atmosphere.

TWO MEANINGS:
1. Physical: damp, humid, clammy
2. Emotional: gloomy, depressing

USAGE:

  • As adverb: じめじめした部屋(へや) (damp room)
  • With する: じめじめする (to be damp/humid)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • じめじめした天気(てんき): humid weather
  • じめじめした場所(ばしょ): damp place
  • じめじめした(はなし): depressing talk
  • 梅雨(つゆ)でじめじめする: it's humid in the rainy season

CONTRAST:

  • からっと: dry and refreshing (opposite feeling)
  • さらっと: dry, smooth

NOTE:
Always carries a negative connotation. Associated with 梅雨(つゆ) (rainy season) when humidity is high and mold ({カビ}) grows.