Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 混雑した | konzatsu shita |
| 込んでいた | konde ita |
混雑した is used to describe situations such as traffic, stations or specific events. To describe a shop, restaurant or train being crowded in casual or standard speech, you should use the verb form 混んでいる. For an onomatopoeic way to describe overcrowded spaces or vehicles, you can use ぎゅうぎゅう.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun within 混雑した, which is 混雑, is composed of characters meaning 'mix/crowd' and 'congestion/clog'.
Which one should you use?
混雑した is a more formal way to describe a crowded situation. In contrast, 込んでいた is more common in daily conversation to describe a place being crowded.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the form 込んでいた is the past tense meaning "was crowded", the present continuous form 混んでいる is used to say a place is currently crowded.
How do you pronounce it?
konzatsu shita
Did you know?
- In Japan, the extreme crowding of trains is so iconic that 'pushers' known as 押し屋 were historically hired to physically shove passengers into carriages.
- To describe a crowded place in a very casual way, people sometimes use the word パンパン, which mimics a bursting balloon.
- Japanese has a specific word, 満員電車 ('full-member train'), to describe the unique phenomenon of a train so crowded that no more people can enter.
Examples in context
- 混雑した通りを歩いていたとき、突然鋭い叫び声が聞こえた。I was walking along the crowded street when all at once I heard a shrill cry.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 混雑した to describe a street.Tatoeba #170973 by blay_paul, translation #243507 by CM
- 東京駅はいつも混雑しています。Tokyo Station is always crowded.
- そのイベント会場はいつも混んでるよ。That event venue is always crowded, you know.
- 電車はぎゅうぎゅうでした。The train was packed.
- 道頓堀にはいつも人がひしめいている。There are always crowds of people in Dotonbori.
- 混雑したレストランに入ることができた。konzatsushita resutoran ni hairu koto ga dekita.I was able to enter a crowded restaurant.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are deciding which restaurant to go to.
- 美咲 Misakiあのお店はいつも混雑した状態ですね。Ano omise wa itsumo konzatsu shita jōtai desu ne.That shop is always in a crowded state, isn't it?
- 蓮 Renそうですね。別の店を探しましょう。Sō desu ne. Betsu no mise o sagashimashō.You're right. Let's look for another place.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さん、あそこなら空いているかもしれません。Ren-san, asoko nara aite iru kamoshiremasen.Ren, that place over there might be empty.
- 蓮 Renいい考えですね。行きましょう。Ii kangae desu ne. Ikimashō.That's a good idea. Let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crowded” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
