積もる・積る|つもるtsumoru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
積もる積もる（つもる） is the more common written form and the recommended choice for beginners. Use it as your default when writing this word.
積る積る（つもる） is a less common written variant of 積もる（つもる）. Beginners should generally choose 積もる（つもる） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto pile up; to accumulate塵も積もれば山となる。↗Many a little makes a mickle.
- godan verb, transitive verbto estimate
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 積もる（つもる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 積もります（つもります） |
| Negative (nai) | 積もらない（つもらない） |
| polite (masen) | 積もりません（つもりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 積もらず・積もらぬ（つもらず・つもらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 積もった（つもった） |
| polite (mashita) | 積もりました（つもりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 積もらなかった（つもらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 積もりませんでした（つもりませんでした） |
| Te form | 積もって（つもって） |
| Potential | 積もれる（つもれる） |
| Passive | 積もられる（つもられる） |
| Causative | 積もらせる（つもらせる） |
| Causative passive | 積もらせられる・積もらされる（つもらせられる・つもらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 積もれば（つもれば） |
| tara | 積もったら（つもったら） |
| Volitional | 積もろう（つもろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 積もりましょう（つもりましょう） |
| Imperative | 積もれ（つもれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
雪が積もる
積もる describes something accumulating or piling up on its own (as in 雪が積もる), while 積む means to deliberately pile or stack something (as in 雪を積む).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym積み重なるつみかさなるNeutralPiles up layer on layer, or rises in frequency or degree, as in 「疲れが積み重なる」; the stress is on things stacking up one after another.
- SynonymたまるNeutralCollects or backs up, as in 「水が溜まる」「仕事が溜まる」; the stress is on gathering or being held, not necessarily on piling upward.
- Synonym集積しゅうせきWrittenWritten/formal term for gathering and piling up, as in 「産業集積」; mainly an economic term.
- Synonym蓄積ちくせきNeutralAccumulation or storing up, as in 「知識の蓄積」「疲労の蓄積」; leans abstract — knowledge, fatigue — rather than physical piles.
- Synonym山積さんせきWrittenWritten/formal: piling up like a mountain, mostly of problems, as in 「課題が山積する」.
- Synonym山積みやまづみNeutralHeaped up like a mountain, as in 「書類が山積みだ」; more colloquial than 「山積」.
- Synonym堆積たいせきNeutralDepositing of earth, sand and the like, as in 「堆積岩」; mainly a geological term.
- Related集まるあつまるNeutralGathers in one place — people, attention and the like; the stress is on coming together, not on layering up.
- Antonym減るへるNeutralAntonym: to decrease in number or amount — the opposite of things building up with 「積もる」.
- Antonym溶けるとけるNeutralAntonym: to melt or thaw, as in 「雪が溶ける」 — the opposite of snow piling up.
Use 「積もる」 for snow or dust piling up layer by layer, or for worries building up. For a backlog say 「溜まる」, for layering 「積み重なる」, for abstract accumulation 「蓄積」, for heaped-up piles 「山積み」. Opposites: 「減る」, 「溶ける」.
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
