抱え込む・かかえ込む・抱えこむ|かかえこむkakaekomu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
抱え込む抱え込む is the most common form and the recommended default for beginners. It is a mixed kanji-and-kana spelling.
かかえ込むかかえ込む is less common than 抱え込む. It is another mixed kanji-and-kana spelling, but beginners should use 抱え込む instead.
抱えこむ抱えこむ is less common than both 抱え込む and かかえ込む. It is also a mixed kanji-and-kana spelling; beginners should use 抱え込む instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto hold a thing in one's arms; to carry in one's arms; to embrace (e.g. a baby)彼は両手で頭をかかえこんだ。↗He buried his head in his hands.
- godan verb, transitive verbto take upon oneself; to be saddled with
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 抱え込む（かかえこむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 抱え込みます（かかえこみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 抱え込まない（かかえこまない） |
| polite (masen) | 抱え込みません（かかえこみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 抱え込まず・抱え込まぬ（かかえこまず・かかえこまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 抱え込んだ（かかえこんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 抱え込みました（かかえこみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 抱え込まなかった（かかえこまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 抱え込みませんでした（かかえこみませんでした） |
| Te form | 抱え込んで（かかえこんで） |
| Potential | 抱え込める（かかえこめる） |
| Passive | 抱え込まれる（かかえこまれる） |
| Causative | 抱え込ませる（かかえこませる） |
| Causative passive | 抱え込ませられる・抱え込まされる（かかえこませられる・かかえこまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 抱え込めば（かかえこめば） |
| tara | 抱え込んだら（かかえこんだら） |
| Volitional | 抱え込もう（かかえこもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 抱え込みましょう（かかえこみましょう） |
| Imperative | 抱え込め（かかえこめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym抱くいだくWrittenWritten/formal prose: to hold in one's arms, and also to harbor feelings or ideas, as in 「夢を抱く」. It does not cover taking on problems or burdens yourself.
- Synonym抱き込むだきこむNeutralNeutral: to gather someone into your arms, and figuratively to rope people in or buy them over, as in 「役人を抱き込む」.
- Synonym抱き抱えるだきかかえるNeutralNeutral: to hold a person or thing in both arms, e.g. an injured person or a child. Purely physical; it never carries the sense of taking on a problem yourself.
- Related抱きしめるだきしめるNeutralNeutral: to hold someone tightly in your arms, an emotional gesture. It never means taking on a burden or responsibility.
- Related抱擁ほうようWrittenWritten/formal prose: an embrace, with a solemn or literary ring, as in 「熱い抱擁」.
- Related抱っこだっこCasualColloquial baby talk for carrying a baby or small child in your arms, as in 「抱っこして」. Nothing to do with taking on burdens.
- Related擁するようするFormalFormal: to possess or to lead, e.g. 「大軍を擁する」. In practice about having or commanding, not hugging.
- Related抱き寄せるだきよせるNeutralNeutral: to pull someone close and gather them into your arms, an affectionate move. It is not used for taking on work or troubles.
- Related抱きつくだきつくNeutralNeutral: to throw yourself at someone and cling to them with both arms; the nuance is actively latching on.
- Antonym手放すてばなすNeutralNeutral antonym: to let go of what you hold or part with a possession — the opposite of 「抱え込む」's holding tight and not letting go.
- Antonym放り出すほうりだすNeutralNeutral antonym: to throw something out or drop it and walk away — the opposite of clutching things to yourself and shouldering them.
Use 「抱え込む」 for clutching something to your chest, or for taking on problems and worries all by yourself, as in 「悩みを一人で抱え込む」. For simply holding or hugging, go with 「抱く」 or 「抱きしめる」; to let go, use 「手放す」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
