はめる

• Reading: はめる
• Romaji: hameru
• Pronunciation: /ha.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To put on; to fit into place; to insert; to trick or set someone up. Has both practical and deceptive meanings.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb with two main clusters. Physically, it means fitting one object into another — wearing a ring, setting a gem, slotting a gear into place. Figuratively, and perhaps more notable for N1, it means to trick or deceive someone — to lure them into a pre-arranged trap or frame-up. Context makes the intended sense clear; both are in common use.

Examples

1. 彼女は毎朝左手の薬指に指輪をはめる習慣がある。 She has a habit of putting a ring on her left ring finger every morning.
2. 巧みな罠をはめて、競合会社から情報を引き出した。 They set a clever trap and extracted information from the rival company.
3. 機械のパーツを正確にはめなければ、うまく動かない。 If you don't fit the machine parts precisely into place, it won't work properly.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, deception, mechanics, jewellery

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from はまる (hamaru, to fit/slot in), with はめる being its transitive causative form — to cause something to fit. The physical sense of inserting into a socket extended metaphorically to fitting someone into a pre-arranged trap.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal