呑み込む

• Reading: のみこむ
• Romaji: nomikomu
• Kanji breakdown: 呑 (don/no) — swallow, gulp; 込 (kō/ko) — go in, fill
• Pronunciation: /no.mi.ko.mɯ/

Meaning

To swallow; to understand or grasp quickly; to suppress or hold back (emotions, words).

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb of 呑む (to drink, to swallow) and 込む (to do thoroughly, into). The literal sense is to swallow something whole. Figuratively, it can mean to comprehend something quickly (飲み込みが早い — to be a quick learner) or to swallow back emotions or words one was about to express (言葉を呑み込む — to swallow one's words). The verb is thus versatile, covering physical ingestion, cognitive absorption, and emotional suppression.

Examples

1. 薬を水なしで呑み込もうとして、喉に詰まらせてしまった。 He tried to swallow the tablet without water and it got stuck in his throat.
2. 彼は飲み込みが早く、一度説明しただけで複雑な仕組みを理解してしまった。 He is a quick learner — a single explanation was all it took for him to grasp a complex mechanism.
3. 言いたいことは山ほどあったが、場の空気を読んで言葉を呑み込んだ。 He had no end of things he wanted to say, but he read the mood in the room and swallowed his words.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, education, emotional expression, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 呑む (to swallow/gulp — an archaic form also meaning to absorb or accept) and 込む (inward, thoroughly). The broad semantic range — from literal swallowing to figurative comprehension and suppression — reflects the multi-dimensional nature of taking something fully inside.

Cultural Context

Era: Contemporary

Generation: All ages

Social background: General