JITTO-RI じっとり
Meanings
Describes unpleasantly high humidity or a damp, clammy feeling, especially sweat remaining on the skin rather than running off.
Examples
Japan’s rainy season has an oppressively humid, clammy kind of heat.
日本の梅雨は、じっとりとするような暑さがある。
The air conditioner is set too warm, and a clammy film of sweat has formed on my forehead—I feel like my makeup is about to come off.
エアコンの設定温度が高くて、ひたいにじっとり汗をかいて、化粧が落ちそう。
Dogmatic Opinion
Basically, I picture sweat slowly appearing on the skin.
It is not the sweat produced by exercise. The image is perspiration caused by high humidity, high temperature, or a stuffy room.
There is not enough sweat for it to stream down the body. Instead, it stays on the surface of the skin, creating an unpleasant damp, sticky feeling.
This is an important contrast with SHITTO-RI. SHITTO-RI is usually pleasant moisture; JITTO-RI tends toward humidity, sweat, and discomfort.
Proximate Expression
muggy
sweaty
sticky weather
Related Words
For Japanese Learners
Clammy, damp, sweaty, humid, and oppressively humid may fit. For skin, clammy is often especially good because it combines moisture with discomfort. Compared with SHITTO-RI, JITTO-RI usually carries a negative physical sensation rather than desirable softness or hydration.
