noun
bunched up; crowded together; clumped
Describes people or things packed tightly together like dumplings on a skewer. Often used for crowded trains, clumped objects, or tangled hair.
朝の電車はいつも団子状態だ。
The morning train is always packed like sardines.
髪の毛が団子状態で、ブラシが通らない。
My hair is all tangled up and the brush won't go through.
Compound of 団子 (dango, 'dumpling') + 状態 (jōtai, 'state'), from the image of dumplings stuck together on a skewer.