萎縮(いしゅく)

いしゅく
noun, verb (suru)
atrophy; shrinkage; intimidation
1. atrophy; shrinkage; withering
Physical shrinking or wasting away, especially of muscles or organs due to lack of use or disease.
筋肉(きんにく)が萎縮(いしゅく)しないようにリハビリをする。
Do rehabilitation to prevent muscle atrophy.
市場(しじょう)の萎縮(いしゅく)が懸念(けねん)される。
There are concerns about market contraction.
2. being intimidated; shrinking back; feeling overwhelmed
Psychological state of feeling intimidated or overwhelmed, causing one to hold back or become timid.
上司(じょうし)の前(まえ)では萎縮(いしゅく)してしまう。
I feel intimidated in front of my boss.

WORD STRUCTURE:
萎(い) (wither, shrink) + 縮(しゅく) (shrink, contract)
Both characters relate to becoming smaller.

MEDICAL CONTEXT:

  • 筋(きん)萎縮(いしゅく) - muscle atrophy
  • 脳(のう)萎縮(いしゅく) - brain atrophy
  • 胃(い)萎縮(いしゅく) - gastric atrophy

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXT:

  • 萎縮(いしゅく)してしまう - to become intimidated
  • 萎縮(いしゅく)せずに - without being intimidated
  • 萎縮(いしゅく)効果(こうか) - chilling effect

ECONOMIC CONTEXT:

  • 経済(けいざい)の萎縮(いしゅく) - economic contraction
  • 市場(しじょう)の萎縮(いしゅく) - market shrinkage

NOTE ON READINGS:
萎縮(いしゅく) is the standard reading. The word may also be seen as 委縮(いしゅく) with a different first kanji.

general
Added 2026.1.20 17:22
07500/07526_ishuku