はまる

は

ま

る

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

はまる · godan verb (-ru)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	はまる	はまらない
Polite	はまります	はまりません
Past polite	はまりました	はまりませんでした
Past	はまった	はまらなかった
Te-form	はまって	はまらないで
Desire	はまりたい	はまりたくない
Potential	はまれる	はまれない
Passive	はまられる	はまられない
Causative	はまらせる	はまらせない
Causative passive	はまらせられるalso はまらされる	はまらせられないalso はまらされない
Volitional	はまろう
Polite volitional	はまりましょう
Imperative	はまれ	はまるな
Conditional	はまれば	はまらなければ
Tara conditional	はまったら	はまらなかったら

Pairs withはめる

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

fit into; go into; be fitted with

usually written using kana alone

Physical sense: something fits into a hole, frame, space, or position, or is set into something. The thing that fits is the subject, often with に.

ふたが箱はこにぴったりはまった。
The lid fit perfectly onto the box.
ドアには小ちいさな窓まどがはまっている。
A small window is fitted into the door.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be suited for; fit; meet conditions

usually written using kana alone

Abstract fit: a person, role, plan, case, or condition matches well. For formal 'apply to a rule or condition,' 当てはまる is often more precise.

彼かの女じょは主しゅ役やくにぴったりはまっている。
She is perfectly suited to the lead role.
この条じょう件けんにはまる物ぶっ件けんはなかなか見みつからない。
It is hard to find a property that meets these conditions.

3

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

fall into; get stuck; get caught

usually written using kana alone

Used when someone or something falls into a hole or becomes stuck or caught in mud, a gap, a mechanism, and so on.

子こどもが穴あなにはまって泣ないていた。
A child had fallen into a hole and was crying.
タイヤが泥どろにはまって動うごかない。
The tire is stuck in the mud and will not move.

4

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

be deceived; be taken in; fall into a trap

usually written using kana alone

Figurative extension of falling into something: being caught by a trick, scheme, or trap. Common in 罠にはまる.

彼かれは詐さ欺ぎ師しの罠わなにはまった。
He fell into the swindler's trap.

5

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

get hooked on; become absorbed in; become crazy about

usually written using kana alone

Casual modern use for becoming deeply into a hobby, food, show, game, person, or habit. ハマる is a common casual spelling for this sense.

最さい近きん、韓かん国こくドラマにはまっている。
Lately I have been hooked on Korean dramas.
友ともだちは今いま、サウナにハマっている。
My friend is really into saunas right now.

See all 181 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉に〈物もの〉がはまるfor one thing to fit or be set snugly into another
窓まどにガラスがきれいにはまっている。
The glass fits neatly into the window.
〈事こと〉にはまるto fit or match a certain condition, type, or expectation
この案あんは彼かれの希き望ぼうにぴったりはまる。
This proposal fits his wishes perfectly.
〈場ば所しょ〉にはまるto get stuck or caught in a place (mud, a gap, a mechanism)
車くるまのタイヤが溝みぞにはまってしまった。
The car's tire got stuck in the ditch.
〈人ひと〉の罠わなにはまるto fall into someone's trap or scheme
彼かれの罠わなにまんまとはまってしまった。
I completely fell into his trap.
〈物もの〉にはまるto become hooked on or obsessed with something (a hobby, show, game)
最さい近きんこのドラマにすっかりはまっている。
I'm totally hooked on this drama lately.

Kanji

嵌go into, plunge, inlay
填fill in
塡fill in, fill up, make good

Transitive / intransitive

はめるN3
嵌める is the transitive verb for fitting or inserting something into place; 嵌まる is intransitive, describing the thing itself fitting, getting stuck, or becoming hooked.

Related words

当あてはまるN2sense 2
当てはまる is the more formal, precise word for meeting a rule or condition, while 嵌まる is broader and more casual for something being a good fit.
陥おちいるN1sense 3
陥る is a formal word for falling into a bad state or situation, whereas 嵌まる can describe both literal getting stuck and this figurative sense more casually.
引ひっ掛かかるN2sense 4
引っ掛かる means to get caught or fooled by a trick, closely overlapping with 嵌まる when used of falling for a scheme.
熱ねっ中ちゅうN3sense 5
熱中する is a neutral, slightly formal way to say one is absorbed in something, while 嵌まる is the casual, modern way to say one is hooked or obsessed.
溺おぼれるN3
はまる is a casual, often positive word for getting hooked on a hobby or interest, while 溺れる implies excessive, harmful indulgence.

Opposites

外はずれるN3sense 1
外れる means to come off or become dislodged, the opposite of 嵌まる's sense of fitting snugly into place.

Don't confuse with

陥おちいるN1
嵌まる is the colloquial word for getting stuck or caught in a trap or hole, while 陥る is more formal and literary, used for serious situations like crisis or defeat.

Written forms

はまるUsage64%
Primary practical spelling; All senses are usually written in kana.
ハマるUsage28%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling given; especially common in casual writing for being hooked on something, and sometimes for trap or stuck meanings.
嵌はまるUsage4%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana spelling; understandable but not the normal learner spelling.
嵌はまるUsage3%
Kanji spelling, but kana is generally preferred in ordinary writing.
ハマルUsage2%
填はまるUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; mainly useful for recognizing written variants.
塡はまる
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form using the traditional-looking 塡; mainly useful for recognition.

Etymology

A native Japanese verb with uncertain historical derivation. The kanji 嵌 is conventionally associated with fitting into or being set into something, but usually written in kana.