染まる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 染まる, read そまる, means taking on a color or becoming dyed.
• Basic usage: It describes clouds turning red at sunset or cloth taking on the color of a dye.
  • 夕焼けで雲が赤く染まる。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The change compared with 染める
  • 染まる describes something changing color, while 染める describes someone causing something to take on a color.