sinking
沈む
解説 Definition
sinking は sink（沈む）の現在分詞・動名詞です。水や泥などの中へ下がっていく動きや、気持ち・価値などが落ち込む様子にも使われます。
Moving gradually downward, especially below the surface of water or into soft ground. As the present participle or gerund of sink, it can describe an action in progress or name the process of descending, and it may also be used figuratively for declining feelings or values.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形sink「沈む」に-ingを付けた現在分詞・動名詞で、語末のkを重ねずsinkingとする。sinkは不規則変化sink–sank–sunkだが、進行形は規則的。a sinking boat、the sun sinking、sinking into soft groundのように、液体や地面の中へ徐々に下がる動きを思い浮かべる。
Sinking is the -ing form of sink, so picture continuous downward movement: a boat sinking below the water, the sun sinking behind hills, or a heavy object sinking into soft ground. The same downward image can describe a falling mood, value, or level. Form it simply by adding -ing to sink; do not double the final k. Although sink has irregular past forms—sink, sank, sunk—its present participle is regular. In is sinking, it forms a progressive verb; before a noun, as in a sinking ship, it works like an adjective; alone, it can name the process.
例文
The boat is sinking slowly.
そのボートはゆっくり沈んでいます。
I saw the sun sinking behind the hills.
太陽が丘の向こうに沈んでいくのを見ました。
The heavy box was sinking into the soft ground.
重い箱が柔らかい地面に沈み込んでいました。
sinking の類義語・関連語
sinking の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 sincan（沈む）からゲルマン祖語 *sinkwan- に遡る。水中に「下へ向かう」が原義で、sink（流し台）も「水が落ちる場所」から派生。関連語：sunken（沈んだ）。物理的に沈む動作から、比喩的に「気分が沈む」意味にも広がった。
Sinking is formed from sink and the suffix -ing. Sink comes from Old English sincan and belongs to a Germanic group of words expressing downward movement or submersion. The basic physical sense is to descend below a surface, especially in water. English later extended that image to the setting sun, objects pressing into soft material, decreasing prices or values, and declining emotions. The noun sink developed separately from the idea of a basin into which water flows downward.
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