Japanese word

積む

Pronunciation

Romajitsumu

Meaning

  • verbstack

Example

箱を積みます。bako o tsu mi ma su

I stack the boxes.

Illustration for 積む (stack)

More examples

重い箱を下にして、上に軽い箱を積みます。omo i bako o shita ni shi te ue ni karu i bako o tsu mi ma su

I stack the lighter boxes on top of the heavier ones.

Core concept

Centers on placing things together so that they form a stack or a growing load.

Common phrases

  • 箱を積むbako o tsu mu

    stack boxes

  • 上に積むue ni tsu mu

    stack on top

  • 順に積むjun ni tsu mu

    stack in order

Similar words

積み重ねるtsumikasaneru: To place things one on top of another to form a pile.
積み上げるtsumiageru: To build a higher pile by placing things on top of one another.
載せるnoseru: To put something on a surface, platform, or vehicle for support or transport.

Definition in Japanese

物や荷物などを順に重ねたり、車などに載せたりする。mono ya ni motsu na do o jun ni kasa ne ta ri kuruma na do ni no se ta ri su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 積む (tsumu) is written with 積 (tsumu, "to pile up or accumulate"), whose core meaning extends to stacked objects and loaded goods.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 積む (tsumu) describes loading luggage or cargo as well as stacking boxes, so context determines whether "stack" or "load" is the natural English choice.

Other meanings

  • pile upverb
  • loadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 積み方tsumikataway of stackingnoun

Word lists with this word