募る

• Reading: つのる
• Romaji: tsunoru
• Kanji breakdown: 募 (bo/tsuno) — recruit, collect, gather
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.no.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To intensify; to grow stronger; to become worse. Also: to recruit; to solicit; to collect.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with two distinct uses. As an intransitive verb, it describes emotions or conditions growing stronger or more intense (anxiety mounting, cold deepening). As a transitive verb, it means to recruit or solicit (募集する is the する verb equivalent). The intransitive sense is particularly common at N2 level.

Examples

1. 寒さが募り、コートなしでは外出できなくなった。 The cold intensified, making it impossible to go out without a coat.
2. 彼女への思いが日に日に募っていく。 My feelings for her grow stronger with each passing day.
3. 不安が募る中、ようやく結果が発表された。 With anxiety mounting, the results were finally announced.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, weather, literary descriptions

Tone: expressive

Origin & History

From the kanji 募 meaning to recruit or gather. The intransitive sense of intensification likely developed from the image of feelings or conditions gathering and accumulating over time.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal