Translation guide
The act of taking something into the stomach through the throat. In Japanese, the most common word is 飲み込む (nomikomu) for swallowing food or drink, but there are other expressions for different nuances like gulping, swallowing whole, or metaphorical swallowing (e.g., accepting something).
The physical act of making food or liquid pass from the mouth to the stomach.
The most common and general verb for swallowing. It can be used for both food and drink.
I swallowed the medicine with water.
Please chew well before swallowing.
Literally 'to drink', but often implies swallowing liquid. For solid food, 飲み込む is more precise, but 飲む can be used for swallowing pills or small items with liquid.
Please take (swallow) this medicine three times a day.
Medical/technical term for swallowing. Used in healthcare contexts.
I have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
Swallowing in a hurry, often with a sense of greediness or urgency.
Onomatopoeic expression for gulping down a mouthful, especially liquids.
He gulped down the beer.
Drinking/swallowing in large gulps, often used for drinking a lot quickly.
It was hot, so I gulped down water.
To swallow something whole without chewing. Can be literal or metaphorical (accepting something uncritically).
The snake swallowed the egg whole.
When something gets stuck or is hard to swallow.
To accept something unpleasant, suppress emotions, or believe something without question.
Same verb as physical swallowing, but used metaphorically to mean 'to accept/understand' or 'to suppress (emotions)'.
He swallowed his anger.
To swallow something whole (metaphorically), meaning to accept information uncritically. Derived from the cormorant (鵜) swallowing fish whole.
To endure or put up with something, often used when 'swallowing' one's pride or discomfort.
I was frustrated, but I swallowed it (endured).
飲み込む emphasizes the act of swallowing and the passage through the throat, while 飲む simply means 'to drink' or 'to take (medicine)'. For solid food, use 飲み込む to be clear. For pills, both are common, but 飲む is more casual.
While 飲み込む can be used for suppressing emotions, it's not always natural. For 'swallow one's pride', 我慢する or 自尊心を抑える might be better. Avoid direct translation without checking natural usage.
I choked on the water.
It took time to swallow (accept) the situation.
Don't swallow his story whole (don't believe it without question).