suppress · tranquilize

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is ちん, and the kun readings are しずめる and しずまる. It has 18 strokes. It appears in words for calming anger or disputes and for wind or commotion subsiding.
• Basic usage: 鎮める is read しずめる and 鎮まる is read しずまる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 鎮める / 鎮まる
  • 鎮める means calm or soothe and is read しずめる. It describes calming anger or settling a dispute.
  • 深く息を吸って怒りを鎮めた。 means “I took a deep breath and calmed my anger.”
  • 鎮まる means to subside or to calm down and is read しずまる. It describes wind or commotion subsiding.
  • 強い風が夜明け前にようやく鎮まった。 means “The strong wind finally subsided before dawn.”