Meaning and Usage
The verb 濁る (にごる) primarily means "to become muddy" or "to get cloudy," often used to describe water or liquids that lose their clarity. It can also be used metaphorically to describe sounds or voices that become unclear or rough, often due to emotion or physical condition.
Common Contexts
- Natural phenomena: rivers, lakes, or liquids becoming turbid after rain or disturbance.
- Voice or sound: when someone's voice becomes hoarse, unclear, or emotionally charged.
Collocations and Patterns
- 水が濁る (みずがにごる): water becomes muddy or cloudy.
- 声が濁る (こえがにごる): voice becomes hoarse or unclear.
- 感情で声が濁る: voice clouded by emotion.
Register and Nuance
This verb is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese. It is appropriate in everyday conversation and descriptive writing. When used for voice, it often implies an emotional or physical change affecting clarity.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 濁る with 汚れる (よごれる), which means "to become dirty." 濁る specifically refers to loss of clarity or purity, especially in liquids or sounds, rather than general dirtiness.