1.
to drive into, to chase into
To force someone or something into a confined space by chasing.
羊を囲いに追い込む。
To drive the sheep into the pen.
犯人を袋小路に追い込んだ。
The criminal was cornered in a dead end.
2.
to corner, to push into a difficult situation
To force someone into a desperate or disadvantageous position, either literally or figuratively.
犯人を袋小路に追い込んだ。
The criminal was cornered in a dead end.
借金で彼は追い込まれた状況にある。
He's in a desperate situation due to debt.
自分を追い込んでトレーニングする。
To push oneself hard during training.
COMPOUND VERB: 追う (to chase) + 込む (to go into) = to chase into
TRANSITIVITY: Transitive. Takes を to mark what is being driven/cornered.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 窮地に追い込む (to drive into a tight spot)
- 追い込まれる (to be cornered - passive form)
- 自分を追い込む (to push oneself)
- 崖っぷちに追い込む (to push to the brink)
USAGE NOTE: Often used in the passive form 追い込まれる when describing being put in a difficult situation.
RELATED ～込む COMPOUND VERBS:
- 呼び込む - to call in, to invite in
- 誘い込む - to lure into
- 駆け込む - to rush into