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思い詰める (おもいつめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
ichidan verb, transitive verb
brood over ; worry excessively ; torment oneself with thoughts
Describes getting stuck in negative, obsessive thinking, often leading to a distressed state. Commonly used when someone cannot stop dwelling on a problem.
い
詰つ
め
ない
で
、
誰だれ
か
に
相そう
談だん
し
た
ほう
が
いい
よ
。
Don't torment yourself so much; you should talk to someone about it.
Written forms 思おも い 詰つ める Usage 32%
Standard kanji spelling with high frequency ranking.
思おも いつめる Usage 66%
Alternate kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
おもいつめる Usage 2%
Similar words 悩なや む 悩む is a general term for worrying or being troubled, while 思い詰める implies a more intense, obsessive, and often solitary brooding that can lead to a desperate state.
考かんが え 込こ む 考え込む means to be deep in thought, often with a neutral or problem-solving nuance, whereas 思い詰める carries a strong negative emotional charge and a sense of being trapped by one's thoughts.
Etymology Compound of 思い (thought, feeling) and 詰める (to pack, to stuff), literally 'to pack one's thoughts', giving the sense of being filled or cornered by obsessive thinking.
