考え込む
かんがえこむ
verb-godan
to think deeply; to ponder; to be lost in thought
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 考え込む | 考え込まない |
| Present polite | 考え込みます | 考え込みません |
| Past | 考え込んだ | 考え込まなかった |
| Past polite | 考え込みました | 考え込みませんでした |
| て form | 考え込んで | 考え込まなくて |
| ている present | 考え込んでいる | 考え込んでいない |
| ている polite | 考え込んでいます | 考え込んでいません |
| ている past | 考え込んでいた | 考え込んでいなかった |
| ている past polite | 考え込んでいました | 考え込んでいませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 考え込めば | 考え込まなければ |
| Conditional たら | 考え込んだら | 考え込まなかったら |
| Volitional | 考え込もう | — |
| Volitional polite | 考え込みましょう | — |
| Potential | 考え込める | 考え込めない |
| Passive | 考え込まれる | 考え込まれない |
| Causative | 考え込ませる | 考え込ませない |
| Imperative | 考え込め | 考え込むな |
1.
to think deeply; to ponder; to be lost in thought
To become absorbed in thought, often with a serious or worried expression. The ～込む suffix conveys becoming deeply immersed in the action of thinking.
彼は黙って考え込んだ。
He fell silent and became lost in thought.
難しい問題を前に、考え込んでしまった。
Faced with a difficult problem, I ended up deep in thought.
何をそんなに考え込んでいるの？顔色が悪いよ。
What are you thinking so hard about? You don't look well.
A compound verb formed from 考える (to think) + 込む (into), conveying deep immersion in thought. Often implies a worried, troubled, or contemplative state rather than casual thinking.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一人で考え込む: to brood alone
- 黙って考え込む: to fall silent and ponder
- 深く考え込む: to think very deeply
USAGE:
Typically describes a visible state — someone who appears absorbed, often with their arms crossed or head bowed. Frequently used with ～てしまう to indicate falling into deep thought unintentionally.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 考える: to think — neutral, everyday thinking
- 悩む: to worry/agonize — focuses on emotional distress
- 思案する: to deliberate — more formal, implies weighing options