Japanese word

思い込む

Pronunciation

Romajiomoikomu

Meaning

  • verbassume

Example

私は彼が来ると思い込みました。watashi wa kare ga ku ru to omo i ko mi ma shi ta

I assumed that he was coming.

Illustration for 思い込む (assume)

More examples

彼は地図を見ずに、道を知っていると思い込んでいました。kare wa chi zu o mi zu ni michi o shi tte i ru to omo i ko n de i ma shi ta

He assumed he knew the way without looking at a map.

Core concept

Holds a belief so firmly that it is treated as certain, even when the evidence is incomplete.

Common phrases

  • 勝手に思い込むkat te ni omo i ko mu

    assume without checking

Similar words

決めつけるkimetsukeru: To decide that something is true without checking the available evidence.
信じ込むshinjikomu: To hold a belief so firmly that it is treated as a fact.
仮定するkateisuru: To treat something as true for the purpose of examining a situation.

Definition in Japanese

根拠を十分に確かめず、そうだと固く信じること。kon kyo o jū bun ni tashi ka me zu sō da to kata ku shin ji ru ko to

Word origin

思い込む (omoikomu) is formed from 思う (omou, "think") and 込む (komu, "go into"), showing a thought settling deeply in the mind.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, it can describe a mistaken belief, so it often sounds stronger than a neutral assumption.

Other meanings

  • be convincedverb
  • be under the impressionverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 思い込みomoikomiassumptionnoun

Word lists with this word