1.
to become diluted, to become thinner, to weaken
For a liquid, color, flavor, or abstract quality to become weaker or less concentrated. Used for both physical dilution (soup becoming watery) and figurative weakening (interest fading, impressions dimming).
スープの味が薄まった。
The soup's flavor became diluted.
時間がたつにつれて記憶が薄まっていく。
As time passes, memories gradually fade.
水を足しすぎて紅茶の色がすっかり薄まってしまった。
I added too much water, and the color of the tea became completely washed out.
CONJUGATION:
Godan verb (五段). 薄まる → 薄まらない → 薄まって → 薄まった
USAGE:
The intransitive counterpart of 薄める (to dilute, to weaken). 薄まる describes the change happening on its own, while 薄める implies someone deliberately diluting something. Can be used for physical properties (flavor, color, concentration) and abstract qualities (memories, impressions, suspicion).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 味が薄まる: flavor becomes diluted
- 記憶が薄まる: memories fade
- 色が薄まる: color fades
- 印象が薄まる: impression weakens