Translation guide
The English word "clump" refers to a group of things close together, often in a mass or cluster. This guide helps learners express this idea naturally in Japanese, covering nouns for clusters, verbs for gathering, and descriptive phrases.
Describing a group of objects growing or positioned closely together, forming a noticeable mass.
General word for a lump, mass, or clump of something. Can be used for physical objects, people, or abstract concepts.
There is a clump of trees in the corner of the park.
My hair is tangled in clumps.
Often used for groups of animals, but can also describe clusters of plants or things that are gathered together.
A clump of bamboo is swaying in the wind.
Specifically refers to a thicket or clump of bushes or undergrowth.
There is a clump of grass in the corner of the garden.
Hiragana version of 塊, often used in casual writing or when the kanji is considered too formal.
Break up the clumps of soil.
Referring to a compacted or sticky mass of a material, often unintentional or messy.
Describing a small crowd or cluster of living beings.
Standard word for a group of animals or people gathered together.
A clump of people had formed in the square.
More formal term for a group or mass of people.
Can be used for people, emphasizing a tight, dense group.
Describing the action of things coming together to form a mass.
Intransitive verb meaning to harden, solidify, or clump together. Used for substances becoming lumpy.
The sugar clumped together from moisture.
Transitive verb meaning to harden or make something clump together.
Phrase meaning 'to become a clump'. Common and versatile.
My hair got tangled and clumped together.
Verb meaning to swarm or crowd around, used for people or animals gathering.
Referring to a cluster of plants like bamboo, flowers, or grass, often using specific counters.
Counter/word for a clump or stock of plants, especially those that grow from a single root base (e.g., bamboo, grass, bushes).
There is one clump of bamboo growing.
Divide the clump of Japanese pampas grass.
Means bundle or bunch, can be used for a clump of cut plants or flowers tied together.
Describing the sound of something heavy falling or moving with a thud, sometimes associated with a clump.
Onomatopoeia for a heavy thud, like a clump of something hitting the ground.
A clump of snow fell with a thud.
塊 (かたまり) emphasizes a solid, often shapeless mass, while 群れ (むれ) implies a group of distinct individuals (animals, people). For a clump of trees, both can work, but 塊 suggests a dense, unified mass, whereas 群れ suggests a collection of separate trees.
While 人のかたまり is understandable, it can sound odd or dehumanizing. Use 群れ or 集団 for groups of people unless emphasizing a tight, disorderly crowd.
There's a clump of bushes by the fence.
茂み is the most natural word for a clump of bushes.
The soil was full of hard clumps.
Don't let the batter get clumpy.
A clump of snow fell from the roof.
Mix so that the powder doesn't form clumps.
観光客の集団が道を塞いでいる。
A clump of tourists is blocking the road.
子供たちがかたまりになって遊んでいる。
The children are playing in a clump.
土を固めて植木鉢を作る。
Clump the soil together to make a flowerpot.
ハトがパンくずに群がっている。
Pigeons are clumping around the bread crumbs.
Arrange a clump of flowers in a vase.