Japanese symbol for “wilt”
萎む
しぼむ
Romaji: shibomu
to wither (of flowers, dreams, etc.); to wilt; to droop; to shrivel
In Japanese, wilt is 萎む, read しぼむ (shibomu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5m, vi to wither (of flowers, dreams, etc.); to wilt; to droop; to shrivel; to fade (away); to sag
Written forms: 萎む、凋む. Readings: しぼむ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “wilt”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 萎れる | しおれる shioreru | to wither; to wilt; to droop |
| 萎える | なえる naeru | to wither; to droop; to wilt |
| 萎びる | しなびる shinabiru | to shrivel (e.g. cut vegetables, skin); to wilt; to fade |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 萎縮 | いしゅく ishuku | withering; shrivelling; shrinking |
| 萎える | なえる naeru | to lose strength; to become weak; to disappear (of energy, drive, etc.) |
| 萎え | なえ nae | weakening; loss of strength |
| 萎れる | しおれる shioreru | to wither; to wilt; to droop |
| 萎凋 | いちょう ichou | wilting; withering |
See also: Chinese symbol for “wilt”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.