Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Become" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "become", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
曇る
くもる (kumoru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
げっそり
げっそり (gessori)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "become" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 曇る and げっそり.
In Japanese, 曇る (くもる (kumoru)) is typically associated with "to become cloudy, to cloud over" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Describes the sky becoming cloudy. Opposite of 晴れる.
On the other hand, げっそり (げっそり (gessori)) maps to "become thin, lose a lot of weight (from worry/illness); feel disappointed/discouraged" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Describes a sudden and significant loss of weight due to illness, worry, or shock, resulting in an emaciated appearance. Can also describe a feeling of deep disappointment.. A literal translation of "become" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "曇る"
今日は朝から曇っています。
It has been cloudy since this morning.
Bilingual Context for "げっそり"
彼は病気でげっそり痩せてしまった。
He became terribly thin from illness.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "今日は朝から曇っています。" (Meaning: "It has been cloudy since this morning.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "曇る" fits here because it means "to become cloudy, to cloud over" in the context of: "It has been cloudy since this morning.". "げっそり" represents "become thin, lose a lot of weight (from worry/illness); feel disappointed/discouraged".