Japanese word

混む

Pronunciation

Romajikomu

Meaning

  • verbbe crowded

Example

電車は朝、混みます。den sha wa asa ko mi ma su

The trains are crowded in the morning.

Illustration for 混む (be crowded)

More examples

休日は高速道路が混みます。kyū jitsu wa kō soku dō ro ga ko mi ma su

The highways get crowded on holidays.

Core concept

It describes a space or route becoming tightly filled because many people or things gather in it.

Common phrases

  • 電車が混むden sha ga ko mu

    trains get crowded

  • 道路が混むdō ro ga ko mu

    roads get crowded

  • 店が混むmise ga ko mu

    stores get crowded

Similar words

混雑するkonzatsusuru: To be crowded with many people or things in a limited space.
混み合うkomiau: To become densely filled as many people or vehicles gather in one place.

Definition in Japanese

人や物が多く集まって、場所や通路に余裕がなくなる。hito ya mono ga ō ku atsu ma tte ba sho ya tsū ro ni yo yū ga na ku na ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 混む (komu) is related to 込む (komu, "go into"); 混 (kon, "mix") is used to represent many people or things filling one place.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 混む (komu) applies to trains, roads, shops, and stations, with English using crowded or congested according to the setting.

Other meanings

  • be packedverb
  • be congestedverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 混み具合komiguailevel of crowdingnoun

Word lists with this word