Meaning and Usage
"沈める" (しずめる) primarily means "to sink" or "to submerge" something physically, such as a ship or an object in water. It is a transitive verb, so it requires a direct object that is being sunk or submerged.
Emotional and Figurative Use
Besides the literal meaning, "沈める" is often used figuratively to describe suppressing or calming down emotions, such as anger or sadness. For example, "怒りを沈める" means to calm or suppress anger.
Common Collocations
- 船を沈める: to sink a ship (literal physical sinking)
- 怒りを沈める: to calm/suppress anger (figurative use)
- 水中に沈める: to submerge underwater
Register and Politeness
"沈める" is a neutral verb used in both formal and informal contexts. It is more common in written or formal speech when describing sinking or suppressing.
Learner Tips
A common confusion is mixing "沈める" with "沈む" (しずむ), which is intransitive and means "to sink" by itself. Remember, "沈める" requires an object that you actively sink or suppress, while "沈む" describes something sinking on its own.