1.
to be packed, to be stuffed
To be filled tightly.
箱にお菓子が詰まっている。
The box is packed with sweets.
予定が詰まっている。
My schedule is packed.
中身の詰まった話だった。
It was a talk full of substance.
2.
to be blocked, to be clogged
To be obstructed.
鼻が詰まっている。
My nose is stuffed up.
排水口が詰まった。
The drain got clogged.
道が詰まっている。
The road is jammed.
3.
to be stuck (in speech)
Unable to continue speaking.
言葉に詰まる。
To be at a loss for words.
返事に詰まった。
I was stuck for an answer.
質問されて答えに詰まった。
I was asked a question and was at a loss for an answer.
詰まる describes something becoming blocked, filled, or stuck. It emphasizes the resulting state rather than the action.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 自動詞 (intransitive)
- Pair: 詰める (transitive, to pack/stuff)
ASPECT (詰まっている):
Indicates a resulting state: 鼻が詰まっている means 'nose is stuffed' (not 'is getting stuffed').
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 鼻が詰まる: nose is stuffed up
- 言葉に詰まる: to be at a loss for words
- 息が詰まる: to feel suffocated
- 排水口が詰まる: drain is clogged
RELATED:
つまり (in short, that is to say) comes from the sense of things coming together/condensing.