()れる

すれる
verb-ichidan
to rub; to chafe; to wear thin; to become jaded
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present()れる()れない
Present polite()れます()れません
Past()れた()れなかった
Past polite()れました()れませんでした
て form()れて()れなくて
ている present()れている()れていない
ている polite()れています()れていません
ている past()れていた()れていなかった
ている past polite()れていました()れていませんでした
Conditional ば()れれば()れなければ
Conditional たら()れたら()れなかったら
Volitional()れよう
Volitional polite()れましょう
Potential()れられる()れられない
Passive()れられる()れられない
Causative()れさせる()れさせない
Imperative()れろ()れるな
1. to rub against; to graze; to chafe
For two surfaces to come into rubbing contact, typically causing wear, irritation, or sound. Often used of clothing, skin, machine parts, or feet in shoes.
(くつ)がかかとに()れて(いた)い。
My shoe is chafing my heel and it hurts.
(ある)くと(ふと)ももが()れる。
My thighs chafe when I walk.
(かべ)自転車(じてんしゃ)のハンドルが()れて(きず)がついた。
My bicycle's handlebars rubbed against the wall and scratched it.
2. to wear thin; to fray; to become worn from rubbing
For a surface or material to gradually wear down due to friction over time — cuffs, knees of jeans, tire treads, the spine of a well-read book.
袖口(そでぐち)()れてきた。
The cuffs have started to fray.
長年(ながねん)使(つか)って財布(さいふ)(かど)()れている。
The corners of the wallet are worn from years of use.
表紙(ひょうし)文字(もじ)()れて()めなくなっていた。
The letters on the cover had worn off and become unreadable.
3. to become jaded; to become worldly-wise; to lose innocence
Figurative use: for a person to be ground down by experience into a cynical or cunning state. Often used of children who have grown up too quickly or adults who have lost their idealism.
あの()はまだ()れていない。
That child hasn't lost her innocence yet.
都会(とかい)()らすうちに()れてしまった。
Living in the city, he became jaded.
彼女(かのじょ)何度(なんど)裏切(うらぎ)られて(ひと)()れしてしまった。
Having been betrayed many times, she has become cynical about people.

Intransitive ichidan verb. The transitive counterpart is (こす)る (to rub something). Note that the same kanji 擦} is also read こすれる (see {entry 28426(こすれる)), which is essentially synonymous with sense 1 but slightly less formal.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • intransitive: 〜が}{擦()れる
  • transitive pair: 〜を}{擦(こす)る (to rub something)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (そで)()れる: the sleeves are worn
  • (はだ)()れる: the skin gets chafed
  • (ひと)()れする: to become jaded (compound; same verb)
  • ()れて(あな)()く: to wear through to a hole

SENSE 3 IDIOM:
The figurative "become jaded" sense is most often heard in the compound (ひと)()れする — literally "rubbed by people" — describing someone made cynical by exposure to the harsher side of human nature.