Japanese grammar
What does ～込む mean? Japanese grammar N4
～込む means to ~ into, to ~ deeply.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V(ます形) + 込む |
| Romaji | ~ komu |
| Meaning | to ~ into, to ~ deeply |
Forming it
| Formula | V (drop ます) + 込む — 入ります → 入り込む・乗ります → 乗り込む |
|---|---|
| Conjugation | 込む is a Group 1 verb: 込みます・込んだ・込んで |
How to use it
Expresses an action directed INTO a space, or doing something thoroughly/deeply.
- Meaning 1 — DIRECTED INTO (the original, easiest meaning): 「電車に乗り込む」(board/get onto a train), 「部屋に入り込む」(slip into a room), 「かばんに入れ込む」. Picture an arrow going from outside to inside.
- Meaning 2 — DOING SOMETHING THOROUGHLY, DEEPLY, FOR A LONG TIME: 「考え込む」(be absorbed in thought), 「話し込む」(get engrossed in talking), 「使い込む」(use extensively over a long time). In this meaning, 込む emphasizes DEPTH/duration rather than space.
- Distinguish from ～きる (finish completely): きる emphasizes nothing being left over (食べきる — eat it all up), while 込む emphasizes going INTO something or going DEEP. Two different directions: きる is "to the bottom," 込む is "deep inward".
- Commonly seen words to memorize: 乗り込む・入り込む・申し込む (apply, register)・思い込む (be convinced, assume)・考え込む・話し込む・飛び込む (jump/dive into).
Examples
急いで電車に乗り込みました。
I hurriedly got on the train.
来週のテストを申し込みました。
I applied for next week's test.
母は何か考え込んでいます。
My mother is deep in thought about something.
Keep in mind
- 申し込む (to apply, to register) is a very important N4 word — it produces the noun 申し込み (an application).
- Don't confuse this with the standalone verb 混む meaning "crowded": 「電車が混んでいます」 (the train is crowded) — different character, different meaning.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong料理を全部食べ込みました。
I ate the whole meal up.
Correct料理を全部食べきりました。
The meaning "finish completely, nothing left over" uses きる. 込む means "into/deeply" — two quite different directions of meaning.
-
Wrong電車が込み込んでいます。
The train is crowded.
Correct電車が混んでいます。
混む (be crowded) is an INDEPENDENT verb, different from the suffix ～込む (into). They're homophones but different characters and different roles.
Exam tips
- Memorize 申し込む／申し込み — this word appears a lot in the N4 reading and listening sections (registering for a class, registering for an exam).