ひしめき合あう

ひ

し

め

き

あ

う

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

crowd together; jostle; throng

Describes many people or things packed tightly in a limited space, often with a sense of bustling noise or commotion.

駅えきのホームに乗じょう客きゃくがひしめき合あっていた。
Passengers were crowding together on the station platform.
狭せまい部屋へやに大

おお

勢ぜい

の

人ひと

が

ひしめき

合あ

っ

て

いる

。

A large number of people are jostling together in the small room.

Written forms

ひしめき合あうUsage59%
Standard kana-kanji mixed spelling; the kanji 合う is common for mutual actions.
ひしめきあうUsage38%
犇ひしめき合あうUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using 犇; not commonly encountered.

Kanji

合fit, suit, join
犇clamour, crowded

Similar words

込こむ
込む means 'to be crowded' in a general sense, while ひしめき合う emphasizes the physical jostling and noise of many people packed closely together.
混こん雑ざつする
混雑する is a more formal term for 'congestion' or 'crowding', often used for traffic or public places, without the vivid imagery of jostling.

Etymology

Compound of ひしめく (to jostle, to crowd noisily) and 合う (mutual action). The exact origin of ひしめく is uncertain, but it is an onomatopoeic or mimetic word suggesting a bustling, jostling sound.