込む

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 込む is read as こむ and means being crowded or congested.
• Basic usage: It can describe a road congested with cars or a station crowded at the start of a holiday weekend.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A road congested with cars
  • 込む: This road becomes congested with cars in the evening. Example: この道は夕方になると車で込む。
• A station crowded for a holiday
  • 込んで: The station was extremely crowded on the first day of the holiday weekend. Example: 連休の初日は駅がひどく込んでいた。