Japanese word

追い込む

Pronunciation

Romajioikomu

Meaning

  • verbpressure

Example

締め切りが彼を追い込みます。shi me ki ri ga kare o o i ko mi ma su

The deadline pressures him.

Illustration for 追い込む (pressure)

More examples

質問を重ねられ、彼は苦しい立場に追い込まれました。shitsu mon o kasa ne ra re kare wa kuru shi i tachi ba ni o i ko ma re ma shi ta

After being asked question after question, he was pushed into a difficult position.

Core concept

Shows someone or something being driven inward until it has little room to avoid the pressure or change its situation.

Common phrases

  • 相手を追い込むai te o o i ko mu

    corner an opponent

  • 自分を追い込むji bun o o i ko mu

    push oneself hard

  • 窮地に追い込むkyū chi ni o i ko mu

    drive someone into a corner

Similar words

追い詰めるoitsumeru: To force someone into a difficult position where escape or delay is hard.
迫るsemaru: To urge someone to respond, decide, or act under pressure.
急かすsekasu: To make someone act more quickly by repeatedly urging them.
詰めるtsumeru: To question someone firmly until an answer or explanation is given.

Definition in Japanese

人を逃げ場のない所や苦しい立場に押しやる。hito o ni ge ba no na i tokoro ya kuru shi i tachi ba ni o shi ya ru

Word origin

As a native Japanese compound, 追い込む (oikomu) combines 追う (ō, "chase") with 込む (komu, "enter deeply"), giving the sense of driving something into a confined or challenging state.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, the passive form 追い込まれる (oikomerareru) often describes feeling pressured by deadlines or circumstances, not only being physically chased.

Other meanings

  • drive into a cornerverb
  • herdverb
  • chaseverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word