What is the difference between "あびる" and "浴びる"?

"あびる" means "to take a shower/bath, to bask in" (N5), whereas "浴びる" represents "to take a shower/bath, to bask in" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "あびる (abiru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

あびる (abiru)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

あびる (abiru)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "あびる (abiru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

あびる (Level: N5): Translates to "to take a shower/bath, to bask in" and is used when Used for taking a shower/bath, or to be exposed to something like sunlight or criticism..
浴びる (Level: N4): Maps to "to take a shower/bath, to bask in" and carries the nuance of Transitive verb. Used for taking a shower.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "あびる"

毎日シャワーを浴びます。

I take a shower every day.

Bilingual Context for "浴びる"

毎日シャワーを浴びます。

I take a shower every day.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "毎日シャワーを浴びます。" (Meaning: "I take a shower every day.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "あびる" is used for "to take a shower/bath, to bask in" in the context: "I take a shower every day.".