凹む

Japanese

Kanji in this term

Etymology 1

Verb derived from noun /  (kubo, an indentation, a depression) + verbalizing suffix  (becoming like [noun]), with suffix ぶ mutating to む due to the preceding syllable ぼ.

Verb

凹む (intransitive, godan conjugation, hiragana くぼむ, romaji kubomu)

  1. Alternative form of 窪む. To become hollow, cave in, sink in.
Conjugation
Usage notes

The transitive form is 凹める / 窪める (くぼめる, kubomeru). Consequently, the potential form is the same as the passive form, くぼまれる, instead of くぼめる as shown in the table above.

The spelling 窪む is used more often for くぼむ, because the alternate spelling 凹む also does double duty as へこむ.

Etymology 2

Contraction of 減りこむ (へりこむ, herikomu).

Verb

凹む (intransitive, godan conjugation, hiragana へこむ, romaji hekomu)

  1. To become hollow, cave in, sink in: see くぼむ.
  2. To decline below a certain point; to become less.
  3. To be stuck to be at a loss: see 困る (こまる, komaru).
  4. To yield; to submit.
Conjugation
↑Jump back a section

Read in another language

This page is available in 3 languages

Last modified on 12 December 2012, at 09:12