Word
絡む
Meaning in Englishto entangle, to entwine
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
絡む means to become entangled physically or metaphorically, and to become involved or connected with something; it describes objects wrapping around another and people or matters becoming linked in a complex way.
Main meanings
- physical entanglement: a thread, rope, or wire wraps around an object, creating a tangle
- involvement: to be involved or implicated in a situation or matter
- interconnection: to be intricately connected with others, events, or systems
- complex entanglement: relationships or logistics that are difficult to disentangle
How to use it
Used in both casual and formal contexts, typically with particles like に to indicate what is entangled or involved; describes physical entanglement with objects or metaphorical involvement in events, rumors, or investigations; tone ranges from everyday speech to literary or journalistic prose.
Variants and close terms
- 関わる (kakawaru) – be involved
- 巻き込む (makikomu) – to drag into
- 関与する (kan'yosuru) – to participate or relate
Composition
- 絡: entangle, coil, intertwine
- む: verb-ending that forms an intransitive godan verb
Etymology
絡 denotes entangling; the verb ending む marks an intransitive godan verb; together they form a native verb whose core meaning is becoming entangled or involved.
Word class
verb (五段動詞, intransitive)