JLPT N3 Grammar – How to use “〜込む”①
Table of Contents
1. How to use “〜込む”①
2. Types of “〜込む”
3. ～込む①
4. ～込む②
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: How do you use “〜込む”?
A: “〜込む” is an auxiliary verb that comes after another verb.
It adds meanings such as “to go deeply inside” or “for a state to continue,” making the nuance of the action more specific. There are five main usages, but this article focuses on two representative ones.
Types of “〜込む”
First, let’s look at the overall picture of how it is used.
[Rule]
[V] Verb stem + 込む
| Meaning | Example |
|---|---|
| ① A state continues for a long time | 子供はずっと黙り込んでいます。 The child has remained silent for a long time. |
| ② An object or body moves inside | 口の中に入れたままではなく、飲み込んでください。 Please swallow what is in your mouth instead of keeping it there. 選手がプールに飛び込みました。 The athlete dove into the pool. |
| ③ Completely becoming that state | 冬になってすっかり冷え込みましたね。 It has completely turned cold now that winter has come. |
| ④ Putting an object or body inside | 好きなだけお菓子を袋に詰め込みました。 I stuffed the bag full of sweets. |
| ⑤ Doing an action thoroughly | スープを煮込んだら、味がしっかりしたおいしいスープになりました。 When the soup was simmered, it became rich and delicious. |
～込む①
“〜込む” expresses that a certain state continues as it is for a long time, or that someone deeply enters into that state.
It often combines with verbs that express posture, action, or thought. When attached to verbs such as “話す” (to talk) or “黙る” (to be silent), it can sometimes carry a negative or heavy nuance.
[Meaning]
To do something deeply or for a long time
[Words often used together]
座る (sit), 眠る (sleep), 黙る (be silent), 考える (think), 話す (talk), 困る (be troubled), etc.
[Examples]
疲れた登山者が道端に座り込みました。
The tired climber sat down and stayed there by the roadside.
⇒ “座る” (to sit) only shows the action itself, but “座り込む” expresses the state of remaining seated without moving for a while.
子供は、たくさん遊んで疲れたのか眠り込んでいます。
The child, exhausted after playing a lot, has fallen fast asleep.
冗談で言ったことを後輩は真面目に受け止めて考え込んでしまいました。
The junior colleague took what was said as a joke seriously and ended up brooding over it.
⇒ This shows that the colleague kept thinking about it negatively for a long time.
上司たちが深刻そうに話し込んでいます。何かあったのかもしれません。
The managers are deeply engaged in conversation, looking very serious. Something might have happened.
～込む②
“〜込む” expresses that an object or body moves inside. It is often used together with verbs that indicate movement.
[Meaning]
Indicates movement into something
[Words often used together]
飛ぶ (fly), 駆ける (run), 飲む (drink), 入る (enter), etc.
[Examples]
スタートの合図が鳴ると、選手は次々とプールに飛び込みました。
When the starting signal sounded, the athletes dove one after another into the pool.
⇒ “飛んだ” (just “jumped”) only describes the action of leaping up into the air, but “飛び込む” conveys the full movement of entering into the water.
口の中のものを飲み込んでから話してください。
Please swallow what is in your mouth before speaking.
都会の駅では、通勤ラッシュのときに多くの人が一斉に電車へ駆け込んでいきます。
At city train stations during rush hour, a huge crowd of people rushes into the trains all at once.
Let’s Compare
The “〜込む” expressions introduced here have two major differences:
① A state continues for a long time
② An object moves inside
Now, in the following sentences, which word fits in the parentheses: “入る” (enter) or “考える” (think)?
[Examples]
アイデアがなかなか思いつかなくて、（ ）込んでいます。
ねこが押し入れの奥に（ ）込んでしまいました。
Answer
① ： 考え
② ： 入り
① Since it relates to thinking (“can’t come up with an idea”), the correct form is 考え込む (“to brood over”).
② Since it shows the cat going inside the closet, the correct form is 入り込む (“to enter deeply”).
Summary
There are five usages of “〜込む.”
| Meaning | Example |
|---|---|
| ① A state continues for a long time | 子供はずっと黙り込んでいます。 The child has remained silent for a long time. |
| ② An object or body moves inside | 口の中に入れたままではなく、飲み込んでください。 Please swallow what is in your mouth instead of keeping it there. 選手がプールに飛び込みました。 The athlete dove into the pool. |
| ③ Completely becoming that state | 冬になってすっかり冷え込みましたね。 It has completely turned cold now that winter has come. |
| ④ Putting an object or body inside | 好きなだけお菓子を袋に詰め込みました。 I stuffed the bag full of sweets. |
| ⑤ Doing an action thoroughly | スープを煮込んだら、味がしっかりしたおいしいスープになりました。 When the soup was simmered, it became rich and delicious. |
- ① often combines with verbs that express posture, action, or thought. When used with verbs such as “talk” or “be silent,” it can sometimes carry a negative or heavy nuance.
- ② frequently combines with verbs that express movement. It not only shows the action of “moving” but also emphasizes the image of “completely entering inside.”
Similer Articles
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