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こもる Japanese meaning | Kotomora

こもる

こ

も

る

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

shut oneself in; stay inside; seclude oneself

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person staying inside a room, house, or other enclosed space, often for a long time or to avoid others. Common in phrases like 部屋にこもる.

彼かれは一いち日にち中じゅう部屋へやにこもってゲームをしていた。
He stayed shut in his room all day playing games.

試し験けん前まえは図と書しょ館かんにこもって勉べん強きょうする。

Before exams, I shut myself in the library to study.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be filled with (emotion, enthusiasm, etc.); be imbued with

usually written using kana alone

Used for abstract qualities like emotion, power, or sincerity that fill a work, action, or expression. Often appears in the pattern ～のこもった＋noun or ～がこもる.

See also: 熱のこもった

彼かれのスピーチには熱ねつ意いがこもっていた。
His speech was filled with enthusiasm.
心こころのこもった贈おくり物ものをありがとう。
Thank you for the heartfelt gift.

3

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be filled with (gas, smell, etc.); be heavy with; be stuffy

usually written using kana alone

Describes a space becoming filled with smoke, steam, smell, or a dense atmosphere. Often used for unpleasant or noticeable sensory fill.

部屋へやにタバコの煙けむりがこもっている。
The room is filled with cigarette smoke.
浴よく室しつに湯ゆ気げがこもって前まえが見みえない。
The bathroom is so steamy I can't see ahead.

4

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be muffled (voice); be stifled

usually written using kana alone

Describes a voice or sound that is muffled, as if coming from inside something or being held back. Often used with 声.

See also: こもった声

マスクで声こえがこもって聞きき取とりにくい。
My voice is muffled by the mask and hard to hear.

5

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

hold (a castle, fortress)

usually written using kana alone

Historical military use: to hole up in and defend a castle or fortification. Rare in modern conversation.

戦せん国ごく時じ代だい、武ぶ将しょうは城しろにこもって戦たたかった。
In the Warring States period, warlords held their castles and fought.

6

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

confine oneself in a temple to pray

usually written using kana alone

Traditional religious practice of staying in a temple for a period of prayer or ascetic training. Rare and context-specific.

願がん掛かけのために寺てらにこもる。
Confine oneself in a temple to make a prayer wish.

Written forms

こもるUsage80%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 籠もる and 篭もる are acceptable but less common.
籠こもるUsage12%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; not recommended.
籠こもるUsage7%
Standard kanji form, though kana is more common.
篭こもるUsage2%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; not recommended.
篭こもるUsage<1%
Variant kanji form; 籠もる is more standard.
隠こもる
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

籠basket, devote oneself, seclude oneself
篭seclude oneself, cage, coop
隠conceal, hide, cover

Similar words

閉とじこもる
閉じこもる emphasizes physically shutting oneself in and not coming out, while こもる can also describe abstract filling or muffling.
引ひきこもる
引きこもる specifically refers to social withdrawal and staying home for a long period, often with a negative connotation. こもる is broader.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 込む (こむ, 'to be crowded, go into') with an intransitive sense of being inside or filled. The kanji 籠/篭 relate to 'basket, seclude', reflecting the core meaning of being enclosed.