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JLPT N3 · Compound verbs & suffixes

込(こ)む (komu)

~込む — into, crowded, deeply ~

In short · Alone, 込む/混む means to be crowded. As a suffix after a verb stem, ~込む means moving into something (書き込む) or doing something thoroughly (考え込む).
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Pattern

  • 混む/込む 込む (crowded)
  • Vます形(ます抜き)+込む Verb stem + 込む

Alone

込む describes places such as trains, roads and shops being packed with people or cars. The form 込んでいる is typical. The opposite is 空く. It can also be written 混む.

As a suffix

Movement into something: 書き込む, 流し込む, 乗り込む. Doing something deeply or thoroughly: 考え込む, 教え込む, 使い込む. The meaning depends on the verb, so learn each word.

Examples

  • 朝(あさ)の電車(でんしゃ)はとても込(こ)んでいます。

    Asa no densha wa totemo konde imasu.

    The morning trains are very crowded.

  • 会場(かいじょう)は人(ひと)で込(こ)んでいて、前(まえ)に進(すす)めない。

    Kaijō wa hito de konde ite, mae ni susumenai.

    The venue is packed with people, and I can't move forward.

  • 大切(たいせつ)なことを手帳(てちょう)に書(か)き込(こ)んだ。

    Taisetsu na koto o techō ni kakikonda.

    I wrote the important thing down into my notebook.

Common mistakes

  • 込む and 混む mean the same; either is fine.
  • The compound meaning depends on the verb: 書き込む is putting in, 考え込む is thinking deeply.

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