1.
to hold tightly, to clutch, to hug closely
To wrap one's arms around something and hold it close to the body.
荷物を抱え込んで歩いた。
I walked while clutching the luggage.
子供が大きなぬいぐるみを抱え込んでいる。
The child is hugging a big stuffed animal tightly.
彼女はアルバムを胸に抱え込んで離さなかった。
She held the album tightly to her chest and wouldn't let go.
2.
to take on alone, to shoulder by oneself, to bottle up
To take on problems, worries, or responsibilities without sharing them with others. Often implies keeping things to oneself when one should ask for help.
悩みを一人で抱え込まないでほしい。
I don't want you to keep your worries to yourself.
仕事を抱え込みすぎて体を壊した。
He took on too much work and ruined his health.
問題を一人で抱え込まず、誰かに相談したほうがいい。
Rather than shouldering the problem alone, you should talk to someone about it.
抱え込む combines 抱える (to hold in one's arms) with 込む (into), creating an image of pulling something in close and keeping it there.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
PATTERN:
- 〜を抱え込む: to clutch ~; to take on ~ alone
- 一人で抱え込む: to keep to oneself, to shoulder alone
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 悩みを抱え込む: to bottle up one's worries
- 問題を抱え込む: to take on problems alone
- 仕事を抱え込む: to take on too much work
- 一人で抱え込む: to bear it alone
NOTE: The figurative sense (sense 2) is very commonly used in advice contexts, where people are told not to 抱え込む problems.