追い込む

• Reading: おいこむ
• Romaji: oikomu
• Kanji breakdown: 追 (tsui/o) — chase, pursue; 込 (ko) — crowded, enter deeply
• Pronunciation: /o.i.ko.mɯ/

Meaning

To drive into; to chase into a corner. Also means to push someone to their limit or into a difficult situation.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb meaning to drive or herd something into a confined space, or figuratively to push someone into a desperate situation. Combines 追い (chasing) and 込む (into). In sports, refers to intense training near a competition. The passive form 追い込まれる (to be cornered) is especially common.

Examples

1. 犯人を行き止まりに追い込んだ。 They cornered the suspect at a dead end.
2. 締め切りに追い込まれて徹夜した。 Cornered by the deadline, I pulled an all-nighter.
3. 大会前の追い込み練習はとても厳しかった。 The intense training push before the tournament was brutal.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, work pressure, crime

Tone: intense

Origin & History

Compound of 追う (to chase, pursue) and 込む (to go into, enter deeply). The combined meaning is to chase something or someone into a confined or inescapable position.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal