Translation guide
To forcefully drive something in, or to repeatedly emphasize an idea so it is understood or remembered.
To hit something with a hammer or similar tool to force it into a surface.
General verb for hammering or driving something in, such as a nail or stake.
I hammered a nail into the board.
Emphasizes the forceful hitting action; can be used for driving in stakes or nails with strong blows.
I pounded the stake into the ground.
Explicitly mentions using a hammer; more specific but less common in everyday speech.
Please hammer in the nail with a hammer.
To teach or drill something so thoroughly that it becomes ingrained.
Metaphorically 'pound' knowledge into someone; commonly used for rigorous teaching or training.
The teacher drilled the basics into the students.
To teach thoroughly until it sticks; less forceful than 叩き込む but still implies persistent instruction.
To imprint or indoctrinate; often used for deeply ingrained beliefs or habits, sometimes with a negative connotation.
To stress or emphasize something repeatedly in conversation or argument.
To make sure someone understands by repeating or emphasizing; literally 'press the point'.
He hammered home the appointment time.
To emphasize or stress a point; a more formal or written expression.
He hammered in the importance of safety.
To say something persistently or naggingly; can sound negative if overused.
She kept hammering in the same point.
打ち込む is the standard verb for driving in nails or stakes. 叩き込む adds a nuance of forceful pounding and is often used for stakes or when emphasizing the action's intensity.
Avoid directly translating 'hammer in' as ハンマーで打ち込む when talking about ideas or knowledge. Use 叩き込む or 教え込む instead.
母は私に礼儀を教え込んだ。
My mother instilled good manners in me.
その思想は幼い頃から刷り込まれた。
That ideology was hammered into me from a young age.