1.
to be soaked, to be submerged
To be physically immersed or soaked in liquid. Describes the state of something being partially or fully submerged in water or another liquid.
足が水に浸った。
My feet got soaked in water.
大雨で床が水に浸った。
The floor was submerged in water due to heavy rain.
野菜を冷たい水に浸らせておく。
Leave the vegetables soaking in cold water.
2.
to be immersed in, to be absorbed in
To be deeply absorbed in a feeling, activity, or state of mind. Often used for indulging in emotions such as nostalgia, happiness, or sentimentality.
思い出に浸る。
To be lost in memories.
勝利の余韻に浸った。
I savored the afterglow of victory.
休日は一人で音楽に浸る時間が好きだ。
On holidays, I like the time I spend immersed in music by myself.
USAGE:
The physical sense (sense 1) describes being soaked or submerged in liquid. The figurative sense (sense 2) is more common in everyday conversation and describes being deeply absorbed in emotions or experiences.
The figurative sense often carries a nuance of indulgence or lingering enjoyment. It frequently collocates with emotions and abstract experiences rather than concrete activities.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 思い出に浸る: to be lost in memories
- 余韻に浸る: to savor the afterglow
- 幸せに浸る: to bask in happiness
- 感傷に浸る: to indulge in sentimentality
- 水に浸る: to be soaked in water