囲む To Surround

Meaning

Primary

To Surround

Alternative

To Enclose

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means surround so the verb vocab version is to surround or to enclose.

Reading

かこむ

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

People surround you. They circle around you, calling you a chicken. "Cacko! (かこ) Cacko! Cacko!" Wait, this isn't the sound a chicken makes, right? You laugh at them, thinking their way of making a chicken noise is weird. Go ahead and join in with them and say "Cacko" with them as well.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜を囲む

  周りを囲む

  to enclose the periphery, to surround

  周囲を囲む

  to enclose the periphery, to surround an area

  テーブルを囲む

  to surround a table

• 〜で囲む

  丸で囲む

  to enclose in a circle

  点線で囲む

  to enclose with a dotted line

  線で囲む

  to enclose with a line

Context Sentences

時々、もう一度記者に囲まれたいなと思うことがあります。

There are times when I wish I was surrounded by reporters again.

正かいの番号を全て丸で囲みなさい。

Circle the numbers on all of the correct answers.

日本は海に囲まれているんだから、塩はいつでも手に入ったんじゃないんですか？

Since Japan is surrounded by oceans, has salt always been available there?

Kanji Composition

1. 囲

   い Surround