Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
1. To be crowded, packed (as a main verb). 2. To put/go into deeply or to do something completely/thoroughly (as an auxiliary verb).
🎯 Primary Function
To describe a state of being crowded, or to add the nuance of “depth,” “thoroughness,” or “insertion” to a preceding verb.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (ます-stem) + 込む
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🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal announcements regarding traffic or business (e.g., 渋滞で込み合います). Compound verbs like 申し込む (to apply) are standard in formal settings.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in daily conversations to complain about crowds (e.g., 電車が混んでる).
Written Language
Appears in formal documents (e.g., 申し込み用紙), literature, and news reports.
Spoken Language
Very common in spoken Japanese.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Crowdedness
Used as an independent verb (込む) to describe a physical location or situation with a high density of people or things.
Example: 駅前は人でごった返して、とても混んでいた。
Indicating Deep Insertion or Entry (V-込む)
Used as a suffix to mean ‘to put into’ or ‘to enter’ something deeply or securely (e.g., しまう -> しまい込む).
Example: 指輪を箱の奥にしまい込んだ。
Indicating Thorough or Complete Action (V-込む)
Used as a suffix to mean ‘to do something thoroughly, carefully, or completely’ (e.g., 読む -> 読み込む). This often suggests effort or concentration.
Example: 数時間かけて資料を読み込んだ。
Frequency
High (Both as a verb and in compound forms)
Difficulty
N3-N2 (Intermediate to Advanced)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
電車がとても混んでいる。
Furigana: でんしゃがとてもこんでいる。
Romaji: Densha ga totemo konde iru.
English: The train is very crowded today.
Example #2
この道は朝はいつも渋滞して込みます。
Furigana: このみちはあさはいつもじゅうたいしてこみます。
Romaji: Kono michi wa asa wa itsumo jūtai shite komimasu.
English: This road is always crowded with traffic jams in the morning.
Example #3
彼は勢いよくプールに飛び込んだ。
Furigana: かれはいきおいよくプールにとびこんだ。
Romaji: Kare wa ikioiyoku pūru ni tobikonda.
English: He boldly jumped into the pool.
Example #4
申し込み期間は明日までです。
Furigana: もうしこみきかんはあしたまでです。
Romaji: Mōshikomi kikan wa ashita made desu.
English: The application deadline is until tomorrow.
Example #5
彼女は子供たちに知識を詰め込んだ。
Furigana: かのじょはこどもたちにちしきをつめこんだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa kodomo-tachi ni chishiki o tsumekonda.
English: She crammed knowledge into the children.
Example #6
友達の悩みをじっくりと聞き込んだ。
Furigana: ともだちのなやみをじっくりとききこんだ。
Romaji: Tomodachi no nayami o jikkuri to kikikonda.
English: I carefully inquired about my friend’s problems.
Example #7
新しい仕事に慣れ込むのに時間がかかった。
Furigana: あたらしいしごとにまれこむのにじかんがかかった。
Romaji: Atarashii shigoto ni narekomu noni jikan ga kakatta.
English: It took time to get thoroughly accustomed to the new job.
Example #8
このソースは野菜の旨味が煮込まれている。
Furigana: このソースはやさいのうまみがにこまれている。
Romaji: Kono sōsu wa yasai no umami ga nikomarete iru.
English: The delicious flavor of vegetables is thoroughly simmered into this sauce.
Example #9
自分の考えをノートに書き込む。
Furigana: じぶんのかんがえをノートにかきこむ。
Romaji: Jibun no kangae o nōto ni kakikomu.
English: I write my thoughts into my notebook.
Example #10
この店はいつも予約で込み合っている。
Furigana: このみせはいつもよやくでこみあっている。
Romaji: Kono mise wa itsumo yoyaku de komiatte iru.
English: This restaurant is always crowded due to reservations.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Auxiliary Verb Function (V-masu + 込む)
The meaning shifts significantly when 込む is used as an auxiliary verb. It adds the nuance of “depth” or “thoroughness” to the action (e.g., reading deeply, studying thoroughly).
Example: 彼は資料を深く読み込んだ。
Formation of Essential Compound Verbs
Many essential Japanese vocabulary words are V-込む compound verbs, such as 申し込む (to apply), 飛び込む (to jump in), and 組み込む (to incorporate). Learning these compounds is crucial for N3 and N2 vocabulary.
Example: 予約の申し込みをしました。
Transitive counterpart 込める
While 込む (komu) is typically intransitive (to be crowded), its transitive counterpart 込める (komeru) means “to load” or “to put effort into.” Be careful not to confuse the two, although 込む is more common in compound verb forms.
Example: 込める (komeru) is the transitive form of 込む.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 使いたい言葉を辞書で調べ込んだ。
✅ 使いたい言葉を辞書で調べた。
Do not use 込む for simple actions like looking up a word. 込み込む implies searching *deeply* or researching a lot of information. Use the simple verb for general actions.
❌ この服をバッグに詰め込んだ。 (If you just mean ‘put in’)
✅ 荷物をバッグに入れた。
入れる (ireru) is the standard verb for simply ‘to put in.’ 詰め込む implies forcing or stuffing many things into a space, or putting something in very securely/deeply.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: The standalone verb 込みます is polite. The compound forms maintain the politeness level based on their conjugation. It is neutral in terms of hierarchy.
Social Situations: Essential for describing public transport, stores, application procedures (申し込み), and deep analysis (読み込む).
Regional Variations: The meaning remains consistent across regions, though some specific compound verbs might be more common in certain dialects. The usage of 込み合う is standard.
🔍 Subtle Differences
込む (komu) vs. 入る (hairu) / 入れる (ireru)
入る/入れる mean simply ‘to enter’ or ‘to put in.’ 込む or V-込む implies a more intense, deep, secure, or densely packed entry or insertion.
When to use: Use 込む when emphasizing the crowdedness or the deep/thorough nature of the action. Use 入る/入れる for general entry or placement.
読み込む (yomikomu) vs. 読む (yomu)
読む is simply ‘to read.’ 読み込む means ‘to read thoroughly,’ ‘to scrutinize,’ or ‘to internalize’ the content.
When to use: Use 読み込む when describing serious study, research, or analysis where the content is absorbed in depth.
込み合う (komiau) vs. 混雑する (konzatsu suru)
込み合う is a general, slightly softer term for being crowded (often used for short-term situations). 混雑する is a more formal, objective term for severe, chaotic congestion (often used in news reports).
When to use: Use 込み合う in daily conversation. Use 混雑する in formal writing or when describing extremely heavy traffic/crowds.
📝 Conjugation Notes
込む is a Godan verb (五段活用) and conjugates regularly: 込まない (Negative), 込みます (Polite), 込んだ (Past/Ta form), 込むとき (Plain form), 込めば (Conditional). When used as an auxiliary, it follows the ます-stem of the preceding verb (e.g., 読み + 込む).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The pronunciation is a simple /ko-mu/. When used as a suffix, ensure the preceding verb stem flows naturally into the /ko/ sound (e.g., /yomi-komu/).
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate 込む to the image of a packed train (crowded). Then, think of doing an action *into* that packed state: stuffing things *in* (詰め込む), jumping *into* a crowd (飛び込む), or putting effort *into* your study until your mind is packed with knowledge (読み込む).
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