1.
to harbor, to hold within, to carry
To contain or hold something intangible within oneself — an emotion, a thought, a spirit, or a quality.
彼の目には強い意志が宿っていた。
A strong will dwelled in his eyes.
この作品には作者の魂が宿っている。
The soul of the creator dwells in this work.
言葉に力を宿す。
To imbue words with power.
2.
to conceive, to carry (a child)
To become pregnant, to carry a child in one's womb. A literary or formal expression.
子を宿す。
To conceive a child.
彼女は新しい命を宿していた。
She was carrying a new life within her.
3.
to reflect, to catch (light, dew)
For a surface to hold or reflect light, moisture, or color. A poetic expression.
朝つゆの宿った花が美しい。
The flowers with morning dew on them are beautiful.
涙を宿した瞳で見つめた。
She gazed with tear-filled eyes.
葉の上に光を宿した雨粒が輝いていた。
Raindrops catching the light on the leaves were sparkling.
CONJUGATION:
Godan verb (五段動詞), す-ending.
- Negative: 宿さない
- Polite: 宿します
- Te-form: 宿して
- Past: 宿した
USAGE:
宿す has a literary, elevated tone across all senses. The intransitive form 宿る (to dwell in, to be present within) is also common and appears in similar contexts. The transitive 宿す emphasizes the subject actively harboring or imbuing something.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 命を宿す: to carry a life
- 子を宿す: to conceive a child
- 力を宿す: to imbue with power
- 魂が宿る: a soul dwells (intransitive form)
- 涙を宿す: to hold tears