1.
to soak in; to permeate; to seep into
for a liquid or substance to penetrate deeply into something
雨が地面に染み込んだ。
The rain soaked into the ground.
たれが肉に染み込んでいる。
The sauce has soaked into the meat.
疲れた体に温かい風呂が染み込む。
A warm bath seeps into my tired body.
出汁が大根に染み込むまで煮る。
Simmer until the dashi soaks into the daikon.
2.
to sink in; to be deeply ingrained
for knowledge, habits, or feelings to become deeply established
この味は子供の頃から体に染み込んでいる。
This flavor has been ingrained in me since childhood.
長年の習慣が染み込んでいて、なかなか変えられない。
Years of habit are so ingrained that it's hard to change.
染み込む is a compound verb combining 染みる (to stain, permeate) + 込む (into, deeply).
VERB TYPE:
- Godan verb (込む conjugates as む-verb)
- Intransitive
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 水が染み込む (water soaks in)
- 味が染み込む (flavor soaks in)
- 体に染み込む (to sink into one's body)
- 心に染み込む (to sink into one's heart)
- 骨の髄まで染み込む (to seep into one's very bones)
SENSE 1 VS SENSE 2:
- Sense 1: Physical penetration of liquids/substances
- Sense 2: Abstract/metaphorical - deeply learned or ingrained
COOKING USAGE:
- Very common in cooking instructions when describing how flavors penetrate ingredients
- Often used with 出汁, たれ, 煮汁
RELATED TERMS:
- 浸透する (to permeate - more formal)
- 染みる (to stain, seep - base verb)
- 吸い込む (to suck in, absorb)
REGISTER: Neutral. Common in everyday speech and cooking.