Translation guide
How to express the experience of being surrounded by a crowd, often in an enthusiastic or overwhelming way, in Japanese.
To describe the situation where a person is suddenly surrounded by many people, often fans, reporters, or an excited crowd.
Literally 'a crowd forms', this is a natural way to say that a person is being mobbed by onlookers or fans. It focuses on the crowd gathering around someone.
駅前に有名人が現れて、すぐに人だかりができた。
A celebrity appeared in front of the station and was immediately mobbed by a crowd.
Passive form of 取り囲む (to surround). It directly expresses being surrounded by people, often in a pressing or mobbing manner.
To express being mobbed in a hostile or aggressive way, such as being ganged up on or swarmed by attackers.
Literally 'to be beaten like a bag', meaning to be beaten up by a group. It can also be used figuratively for severe criticism from many people.
彼は裏切り者として仲間に袋叩きにされた。
He was mobbed and beaten by his comrades as a traitor.
取り囲まれる simply means being surrounded, while もみくちゃにされる emphasizes the physical pushing and shoving within a dense crowd. Use 取り囲まれる for being encircled by reporters, and もみくちゃにされる for chaotic situations like a celebrity mobbed by fans.
記者に取り囲まれて質問攻めにあった。
I was surrounded by reporters and bombarded with questions.
人気アイドルがファンにもみくちゃにされて転倒した。
The popular idol was mobbed by fans and fell over.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'to be mobbed' in all contexts. Avoid literal translations like モブされる, which is not standard Japanese. Instead, use the phrases above depending on the nuance.
記者に取り囲まれて、身動きが取れなかった。
I was mobbed by reporters and couldn't move.
Means to be jostled or pushed around in a crowd. It conveys the physical chaos of being mobbed, often in a dense, moving crowd.
コンサート会場でファンにもみくちゃにされた。
I got mobbed by fans at the concert venue.
Verb meaning 'to swarm' or 'to throng'. Often used in the passive form 群がられる to mean 'to be mobbed'.
人気俳優がファンに群がられていた。
The popular actor was being mobbed by fans.
Passive of 押し寄せる (to surge forward). Used when a crowd rushes toward someone, creating a mobbing situation. Slightly more literary.
開店と同時に客に押し寄せられて、店員は対応に追われた。
The staff were mobbed by customers as soon as the store opened.
Means 'to be attacked by a group'. It clearly indicates a mob-like assault.
夜道で集団に襲われて、財布を奪われた。
I was mobbed by a group on the street at night and robbed of my wallet.
Colloquial expression meaning to be ganged up on and beaten or harshly treated. 寄ってたかって means 'all together, ganging up'.
一人で歩いていたら、不良グループに寄ってたかってやられた。
I was walking alone and got mobbed by a gang of thugs.