込む = the "in" suffix — compound verbs of inward motion
込む (こむ) — the “in” suffix verb
Section titled “込む (こむ) — the “in” suffix verb”Standalone 込む = “to put into / go into”. As the second half of compounds it gives the action an inward vector:
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 飲み込む | のみこむ | swallow in (gulp down) → grasp/absorb (into your head) |
| 取り込む | とりこむ | take in |
| 吸い込む | すいこむ | suck in |
| 飛び込む | とびこむ | jump in |
| 入り込む | はいりこむ | enter deep in |
| 申し込む | もうしこむ | “push in” an application → apply/sign up |
| 追い込む | おいこむ | drive in → corner (push into a corner) |
| 考え込む | かんがえこむ | sink into thought |
Pattern: action-verb + 込む = “do it inwards / thoroughly”. Meaning often drifts to absorb/completely:
- 飲み込む → “get it” (absorb into your head)
- 考え込む → lost in thought
Godan conjugation (the こむ→こま/こめ engine)
Section titled “Godan conjugation (the こむ→こま/こめ engine)”込む is a godan (五段) verb ending in む. Last kana む shifts:
- む → ま before れる/ない/せる: 取り込まれる (is taken in), 取り込まない
- む → め before る(potential)/ば: 飲み込めない (can’t swallow in), 飲み込めば
Same family: 読む → 読まれる, 飲む → 飲まれる.
The stems (取り込ま, 飲み込め) never stand alone — they only exist to attach endings.
Don’t confuse
Section titled “Don’t confuse”- 込む (こむ) = the “in” helper — NOT 混む (こむ, same sound, different word) = be crowded
- 込む is godan こむ — NOT 来る (くる, irregular) = to come. Same こ- sound, different verb.
Real sentence
Section titled “Real sentence”英語の発音の呼吸がなかなか飲み込めない。 “As-for English’s-pronunciation’s-breathing — [I] just-can’t-quite swallow-in.” = I just can’t get the hang of the rhythm in English pronunciation.
- 呼吸 (こきゅう) = breathing/rhythm — NOT 幅 (はば) = breadth (recurring mixup)
- なかなか + negative = “just can’t quite”
- 飲み込む → 飲み込めない = potential-negative: can’t swallow in → can’t grasp
Source
Section titled “Source”Ebot lesson 2026-09-05 — 込む compounds from 取り込む (oxygen lesson) + 飲み込む (pronunciation sentence).