を込（こ）めて (o komete)
～を込めて — putting ～ (feeling) into it
Pattern
-
気持ちを表す名詞＋を込めて＋動詞noun of feeling + を込めて + action (感謝を込めて贈る) -
名詞＋を込めた＋名詞noun-modifying form (愛を込めた手紙)
How to use it
Use it for acts aimed at someone or that you want to treasure, such as writing a letter, giving a gift or praying. 心を込めて, 感謝の気持ちを込めて and 願いを込めて are typical. It stresses that the action is done with real feeling.
Form and cautions
To modify a noun use を込めた (心を込めた手紙). It is placed before the action: 〜を込めて、…. It also works with 力 (力を込めて押す), but then it means putting in physical effort, not emotion.
Examples
-
心（こころ）を込（こ）めて手紙（てがみ）を書（か）いた。
Kokoro o komete tegami o kaita.
I wrote the letter with all my heart.
The most common phrase: 心を込めて.
-
感謝（かんしゃ）の気持（きも）ちを込（こ）めて、花（はな）を贈（おく）った。
Kansha no kimochi o komete, hana o okutta.
I gave flowers filled with feelings of gratitude.
The feeling is gratitude.
-
願（ねが）いを込（こ）めて、夜空（よぞら）の星（ほし）に祈（いの）った。
Negai o komete, yozora no hoshi ni inotta.
Putting my wish into it, I prayed to the stars in the night sky.
The feeling is a wish.
Common mistakes
- A noun of feeling comes before it. Ordinary objects such as “机” do not work.
- To modify a noun use を込めた: 心を込めた贈り物.
More grammar points
- ばよかった ～ばよかった — I should have ～, if only I had ～
- ばかりで ～ばかりで — only ～ (and nothing else, with a negative feeling)
- ばかりでなく ～ばかりでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけでなく ～だけでなく — not only ～ but also ～
- だけど だけど — but, however (casual)
- ふりをする ～ふりをする — pretending to ～
- 一方（いっぽう）だ ～一方だ — keeps ～ing in one direction
- 一体（いったい） 一体 — what on earth ～ (emphasizing a question)
- じゃない ～じゃない — isn't it ～! (surprise or confirmation)
- か何（なに）か ～か何か — ～ or something
- 代（か）わりに ～代わりに — instead of ～, in return for ～
- 結局（けっきょく） 結局 — in the end, after all
- きり ～きり — only ～; ever since ～
- っけ ～っけ — was it ～? (recalling)
- ことになっている ～ことになっている — it is the rule or plan that ～
- ことは～が ～ことは～が — it is true that ～, but ～
- くせに ～くせに — even though ～ (with reproach)
- も～ば～も A も ～ば B も ～ — both A and B
Practice this in the app
Mainichi JLPT turns these grammar points into daily quizzes and a readiness gauge — 100% free, no sign-up.