背負い込む

• Reading: せおいこむ
• Romaji: seoikomu
• Kanji breakdown: 背 (se) — back; 負 (oi) — to bear, carry; 込 (ko) — deeply in
• Pronunciation: /se.o.i.ko.mɯ/

Meaning

To take on; to shoulder; to burden oneself with. To voluntarily or involuntarily assume a heavy responsibility or obligation.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb combining 背負う (to carry on one's back, bear) and 込む (to take in deeply). 背負い込む intensifies 背負う by emphasising that the burden is taken on entirely, often excessively. 借金を背負い込む (to saddle oneself with debt), 問題を一人で背負い込む (to take on problems entirely alone). The verb often implies that the burden is larger than one can comfortably manage, with an undertone of recklessness or self-sacrifice.

Examples

1. 会社の不始末を一人で背負い込もうとする彼の姿勢に、周囲は心配した。 Those around him grew worried watching him try to bear the entire fallout from the company's misconduct alone.
2. 親の多額の借金を背負い込んで、二十代の若者が途方に暮れていた。 Saddled with his parents' enormous debts, a young man in his twenties was utterly at a loss.
3. 何でも自分一人で背負い込まずに、チームで解決策を探すべきだ。 Rather than taking everything on alone, you should work with the team to find a solution.

Usage Guide

Context: responsibility, debt, workplace, family, mental health

Tone: concerned, sympathetic

Origin & History

Compound of 背負う (seo-u — to carry on the back; from 背 'back' + 負う 'to bear') and 込む (ko-mu — to press deeply in). The image of physically strapping a heavy load onto one's back is extended to taking on emotional, financial, or social burdens.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional-Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal