Have you ever looked at your fingertips after a long bath?
Or crumpled a piece of paper into a little ball?
That wrinkled, creased appearance in Japanese is expressed as:
“Shiwa Shiwa” (しわしわ)
Let’s hear how it sounds!
What is “Shiwa Shiwa” (しわしわ)?
“Shiwa Shiwa” describes:
- A surface covered with wrinkles
- Skin that has lost its smoothness
- Paper, fabric, or objects full of little creases
It often suggests something that has folded, dried, aged, or been used.
Pronunciation
shee-wah shee-wah
(Say it softly, like many tiny folds appearing.)
Categories
Visual / Condition
What Does “Shiwa Shiwa” Look Like?
It looks like an old letter folded many times.
Like skin after a long bath.
Like a piece of paper covered with tiny creases.
How Do You Say It?
Say it gently:
Shiwa shiwa…
Like little wrinkles spreading across a surface.
Examples in Daily Life
Example 1: Wrinkled skin
After soaking in the hot bath for a long time, his fingers became —
shiwa shiwa…
Example 2: Wrinkled paper
The old letter had been folded and unfolded many times —
shiwa shiwa…
Cultural Note
In English, you might say:
- “Wrinkled”
- “Creased”
- “Crinkled”
But “shiwa shiwa” often focuses on the visual pattern of many small wrinkles.
It suggests:
Many tiny folds
A loss of smoothness
A naturally aged or used appearance
Compared with similar expressions:
- Bosa Bosa → messy and tangled
- Shina Shina → wilted and limp
- Shiwa Shiwa → covered with wrinkles and creases
Watch & Feel the “Shiwa Shiwa” World!
Feel the “Shiwa Shiwa” — Wrinkled Blouson
Try Using It!
When skin becomes wrinkled…
When paper is full of creases…
When something loses its smooth surface…
Say it naturally:
Shiwa shiwa〜
Comments