14
囲む

To Surround


Meaning

To Surround, To Enclose

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means surround so the verb vocab version is to surround or to enclose.


Reading

かこむ

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you: People surround you. They circle around you, calling you a chicken. "Cacko! (かこ) Cacko! Cacko!" Wait, this isn't the sound a chicken makes, right? You laugh at them, thinking their way of making a chicken noise is weird. Go ahead and join in with them and say "Cacko" with them as well.


Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • テーブルを囲む

    to surround a table

    周囲を囲む

    to enclose the periphery, to surround an area

    周りを囲む

    to enclose the periphery, to surround

  • 線で囲む

    to enclose with a line

    点線で囲む

    to enclose with a dotted line

    丸で囲む

    to enclose in a circle

Context Sentences

こうやってみんなで火を囲むのって楽しいね。

It's fun to gather around the fire like this with everyone, isn't it?

日本は海に囲まれた国です。

Japan is a country surrounded by the sea.

ひらがなの「め」の字を丸で囲んで、「ぬ」の字を四角で囲んでください。

Encircle the hiragana character "" with a circle and encircle the character "" with a square.


Kanji Composition