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飲み込む
nomikomu
to swallow
彼は薬を飲み込んだ。
He swallowed the medicine.
formal
to swallow (food, liquid, or medicine)
彼女は水を一口飲み込んだ。
She took a sip of water.
Commonly used for swallowing food, drinks, or medicine.
informal
to understand or grasp something quickly
その説明をすぐに飲み込んだ。
I quickly understood the explanation.
Often used metaphorically to describe understanding something easily.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Literal vs. Figurative
Be mindful of the context to distinguish between the literal (swallowing) and figurative (understanding) meanings.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The verb is versatile but context determines whether it refers to swallowing or understanding.
Word Origin
From 飲む (nomu, to drink) + 込む (komu, to enter or go into). The verb combines the action of drinking with the idea of something entering the body.
Usage Notes
While primarily used for swallowing, it can also be used metaphorically to describe understanding something quickly. The literal and figurative meanings are distinct but both are common.
Word Breakdown
飲
drink
root込
enter or go into
suffix和英辞典