人波
Meanings
1
surging crowd; wave of people
Describes a large, moving mass of people, often in a public place or event. Can imply a dense, flowing crowd like a wave.
The area in front of the station was crowded with a surging wave of commuters.
I was pushed by the wave of people at the festival and almost got separated.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に人波が押し寄せるa wave of people surges into a place
A surging crowd of people flooded the area in front of the station.
- 人波をかき分けるto push one's way through a crowd
He pushed his way through the crowd and moved forward.
- 人波にのまれるto be swallowed up by a surging crowd
The child was swallowed up by the crowd at the festival grounds.
- 人波が絶えないthe flow of people never stops
This shopping street sees an unbroken flow of people even on holidays.
Expressions
- 人波を泳ぐwade through a crowd; swim through a sea of people