込む

• Reading: こむ
• Romaji: komu
• Kanji breakdown: 込 (ko) — crowded, to go into (Japanese-made kanji)
• Pronunciation: /ko.mɯ/

Meaning

To be crowded; to be packed; to be congested. Describes a place filled with many people.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. Most commonly seen in its te-iru form: 込んでいる (konde iru, is crowded). Also frequently used as a compound verb suffix meaning 'into' or 'deeply' — for example, 飛び込む (to jump into), 申し込む (to apply). The kanji form 混む is also common.

Examples

1. 朝の電車はいつも込んでいます。 The morning train is always crowded.
2. 連休中はどこも込むから家にいたい。 Everywhere is crowded during the long weekend, so I want to stay home.
3. このレストランは昼に込むので早めに行こう。 This restaurant gets crowded at lunch, so let's go early.

Usage Guide

Context: commuting, travel, restaurants

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 込 is a Japanese-made character (国字) combining 辶 (movement radical) with 入 (enter). Depicts many things moving inward — crowding into a space.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal