もむ

も

む

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

もむ · godan verb (-mu)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	もむ	もまない
Polite	もみます	もみません
Past polite	もみました	もみませんでした
Past	もんだ	もまなかった
Te-form	もんで	もまないで
Desire	もみたい	もみたくない
Potential	もめる	もめない
Passive	もまれる	もまれない
Causative	もませる	もませない
Causative passive	もませられるalso もまされる	もませられないalso もまされない
Volitional	ももう
Polite volitional	もみましょう
Imperative	もめ	もむな
Conditional	もめば	もまなければ
Tara conditional	もんだら	もまなかったら

Pairs withもめる

Meanings

1

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

rub; crumple; knead

usually written using kana alone

Physical action of rubbing, crumpling, or kneading something with the hands, such as paper, cloth, or dough.

紙かみをもんで柔やわらかくする。
I crumple the paper to soften it.
パン生き地じをよくもんでください。
Please knead the bread dough well.

2

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

massage; rub down

usually written using kana alone

Rubbing or kneading a body part for therapeutic or relaxing effect.

肩かたをもんでもらった。
I had my shoulders massaged.

3

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

argue; debate; have a heated discussion

usually written using kana alone

Metaphorical use: to hash out ideas or argue vigorously, often in a group setting.

会かい議ぎで意い見けんをもむ。
We debate opinions in the meeting.

4

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

train; coach; drill

usually written using kana alone

To train or coach someone rigorously, often through repeated practice or tough love.

新しん入にゅう部ぶ員いんを先せん輩ぱいがもむ。
The senior members train the new club members.

5

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

jostle; crowd; shake; rock

usually written using kana alone

To be pushed or shaken in a crowd, or to rock something; often used in passive form もまれる.

通つう勤きん電でん車しゃでもまれる。
I get jostled on the commuter train.

6

godan verb (-mu), transitive verb

experience hardships; be tempered by life

usually written using kana alone

Figurative use, almost always in passive form もまれる: to go through various experiences and become seasoned.

社しゃ会かいでもまれて強つよくなった。
I became stronger after being tempered by society.

See all 51 example sentences ›

Usage patterns· 7

〈事こと〉を揉もむto hash out an opinion or matter through discussion
みんなで意い見けんを揉もんで、ようやく結けつ論ろんに達たっした。
Everyone hashed out their opinions and finally reached a conclusion.
〈場ば所しょ〉で〈人ひと〉に揉もまれるto be jostled by a crowd (somewhere)
満まん員いん電でん車しゃで人ひとに揉もまれて疲つかれてしまった。
I got jostled by the crowd on the packed train and ended up exhausted.
世せ間けんに揉もまれるto be tempered by life's hardships
若わかい頃ころから世せ間けんに揉もまれて強つよくなった。
He was tempered by life's hardships from a young age and became strong.
〈人ひと〉の肩かたを揉もむto massage someone's shoulders
妻つまが疲つかれた夫おっとの肩かたを揉もんであげた。
My wife massaged her tired husband's shoulders.
〈人ひと〉を揉もむto rigorously train or drill someone (e.g. a newcomer)
ベテランが新しん人じんを厳きびしく揉もんで一いち人にん前まえに育そだてた。
The veteran rigorously trained the newcomer into a competent worker.

Show 2 more

〈物もの〉を揉もむto knead or rub cloth/laundry (e.g. while washing)
洗せん濯たく物ものを水みずの中なかでよく揉もんで汚よごれを落おとした。
I kneaded the laundry well in the water to get the dirt out.
手てを揉もむto wring one's hands (out of nervousness)
面めん接せつの前まえで緊きん張ちょうして手てを揉もんでいた。
She was wringing her hands nervously before the interview.

Kanji

揉rub, massage, shampoo

Transitive / intransitive

もめるN2sense 3
揉む is transitive, to stir up or hash out an argument, while 揉める is intransitive, for a situation or relationship to become discordant on its own.

Related words

擦こするN3sense 1
揉む is kneading or crumpling something between the fingers/palms, while 擦る is a straight rubbing motion with friction, like scrubbing a surface.
マッサージN2sense 2
揉む describes the hands-on kneading action itself, whereas マッサージする is the broader, more formal word for giving a massage (often with tools or professionally).
議ぎ論ろんN3sense 3
揉む in this sense implies a heated, back-and-forth hashing-out of an issue, while 議論する is the neutral, formal word for discussing or debating.
鍛きたえるN2sense 4
揉む suggests tough, repetitive drilling of a person (often with a scolding edge), while 鍛える is the general word for training or forging someone's skill or body.
さするN1
揉む involves kneading or pressing with more pressure, as in a deep massage, while さする is a lighter, gliding stroke.

Don't confuse with

もめるN2
揉む is a transitive verb meaning to rub or massage something physically, while 揉める is an intransitive verb meaning to have a dispute or friction, and though they share kanji their meanings have diverged.

Word family· 14

揉もみ合あい
jostling; scuffle; struggle
もみくちゃ
jostling; being pushed around; crush of people · crumpling; being crumpled
揉もみ手で
rubbing one's hands together
きりもみ
tailspin; spin · drilling; boring
手て揉もみ茶ちゃ
hand-rolled tea; tea rolled by hand over a dryer

Show 7 more

もみくた
jostling; crush; being mobbed · crumpling
揉もみ出だす
squeeze out; wring out · remove by washing and rubbing
もみもみ
massage; rub · squeezing
揉もみ療りょう治じ
therapeutic massage
揉もみ返かえし
post-massage muscle soreness; rebound pain from massage
もみくしゃ
jostling; being pushed around; crush of people · crumpling; being crumpled
揉もみしだく
crumple; wrinkle; rumple · rub thoroughly; massage roughly; grope

See all 14 in Explore →

Written forms

もむUsage47%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 揉む is also used but less common.
揉もむUsage53%
Kanji form; used in some contexts but kana is more common.

Etymology

Native Japanese verb. The kanji 揉 is composed of 扌(hand) and 柔(soft), suggesting the action of softening by hand.