錆(さ)びる

さびる
verb (ichidan, intransitive)
to rust; to become rusty
1. to rust; to become rusty; to corrode
For metal to develop rust through oxidation. Also used figuratively for skills or abilities that have deteriorated from lack of use.
自転車(じてんしゃ)のチェーンが錆(さ)びてしまった。
The bicycle chain has rusted.
雨(あめ)ざらしにすると鉄(てつ)は錆(さ)びる。
Iron will rust if left out in the rain.
英語(えいご)を使(つか)わないと腕(うで)が錆(さ)びる。
If you don't use English, your skills will get rusty.

TRANSITIVITY: Intransitive verb (自動詞(じどうし)). No transitive pair exists.

CONJUGATION: Ichidan verb

  • 錆(さ)びない (negative)
  • 錆(さ)びます (polite)
  • 錆(さ)びて (te-form)
  • 錆(さ)びた (past)

FIGURATIVE USE:
腕(うで)が錆(さ)びる (skills become rusty) - Used for abilities that have deteriorated from lack of practice.

RELATED VOCABULARY:

  • 錆(さび) - rust (noun)
  • 錆(さ)びつく - to rust solid, to seize up with rust

KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 錆(さび) is specific to rust. It may also be written in hiragana as さびる.

REGISTER:
Neutral. Common in everyday conversation.

Related Words

Related: 錆(さび) (rust)
general
Added 2026.1.19 17:09 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07412_sabiru