くるむ

く

る

む

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

くるむ · godan verb (-mu)

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Used for wrapping something completely, often in cloth or paper, or tucking someone in bed. Implies enveloping or covering snugly.

〈物もの〉を〈物もの〉でくるむto wrap one thing in another (e.g. cloth, paper)
おにぎりをラップでくるんだ。
I wrapped the rice ball in plastic wrap.
〈人ひと〉を毛もう布ふでくるむto wrap a person snugly in a blanket
母ははは赤あかちゃんを毛もう布ふでくるんだ。
My mother wrapped the baby snugly in a blanket.

包つつむN4
包む is the general, everyday word for wrapping or covering something, while くるむ specifically implies a snug, complete wrapping, often in cloth or paper.
巻まくN3
巻く means to wind or coil something around an object (like a scarf around a neck), whereas くるむ means to enclose an object completely within a wrapping material.
包つつみ込こむ
くるむ is a casual, everyday word for wrapping something (like a baby in a blanket), while 包み込む is more literary and often figurative.

丸まるめるN2
丸める means to round something into a ball shape, while くるむ means to wrap something in a covering material, not necessarily forming a ball.

くるむUsage100%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 包む is also used but can be confused with つつむ.
包くるむ
Kanji spelling; less common than kana and may be read as つつむ.

The origin is uncertain. Possibly related to くる (to wind, to reel) or くるまる (to be wrapped up).