混む

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 混む（こむ） means becoming crowded with people, vehicles, or similar traffic.
• Basic usage: Use it for congestion in places such as shops or roads.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Becoming crowded versus being crowded
  • 店が混む can describe a general pattern or a future situation in which the shop gets busy.
  • 店が混んでいる describes the shop's crowded state.