音読み: ジュク
訓読み: うれる
画数: 15
部首: 灬（れっか）
Meaning
Mature / Ripen / Fully Developed
- Basic forms
- 熟れる — ripen; become ripe / base form
- 熟れます — ripens / masu form
- 熟れた — ripened; ripe / ta form
- 熟れて — ripening … / te form
- 熟れない — do not ripen / negative
- 熟れれば — if (something) ripens / conditional
- Common expressions
- 果物が熟れる — fruit ripens
- トマトが熟れる — tomatoes ripen
- More
- 熟れたい — want to be ripe / 〜たい form
- 熟れよう — let it ripen / 〜よう form
- 熟れている — is ripe / state
熟れる（うれる） is an ichidan intransitive verb. It describes fruit or crops becoming ripe naturally. It can also be used metaphorically for conditions becoming ready or mature.
- 熟語 — idiomatic compound / phrase
- 熟練 — skill / mastery
- 未熟 — immature / inexperienced
- 成熟 — maturity
- 熟成 — ripening (e.g., cheese / sake)
- 熟考 — deep thought
- 熟睡 — sound sleep
- 熟読 — careful reading
熟 combines the fire radical (灬 / れっか) with an element meaning “to be / to become,” suggesting gradual change under heat — ripening, aging, or reaching maturity.
It covers physical ripeness and also skillful maturity — as in 熟練 or 熟成.
この果物は よく熟れていて、おいしいです。
This fruit is nicely ripened and delicious.
彼は 熟練の 職人です。
He is a skilled craftsman.
熟語 — idiomatic compound / phrase