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A2 verb #3,500 most common 7 min read

埋める

umeru Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 埋める in 30 Seconds

Explanation 埋める in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most literal and physical meaning of 埋める (umeru). Imagine a dog in a backyard. The dog has a bone. The dog digs a hole, puts the bone in, and covers it with dirt. This is 'umeru.' In English, we say 'to bury.' At this stage, you don't need to worry about the abstract meanings like 'filling a schedule.' Just remember that it is an action you do to an object using soil or sand. The grammar is simple: [Object] を埋めます (I bury [Object]). For example, 'Inu ga hone o umemasu' (The dog buries a bone). You might also see it in simple stories or children's books. It is a Group 2 (Ichidan) verb, so it's easy to conjugate: umeru, umemasu, umeta. Practice by thinking of things you might find in a sandbox or a garden. If you put them under the sand, you are using 'umeru.' This level is all about concrete actions you can see with your eyes.

As an A2 learner, you can start using 埋める (umeru) for more common daily tasks beyond just burying things in the dirt. One of the most frequent uses at this level is 'filling in the blanks' on a worksheet or a test. When your teacher says 'Kuuran o umete kudasai' (Please fill in the blanks), they are using this verb. You can also use it for simple gardening, like burying seeds (tane o umeru) or filling a small hole in the path. You should also be aware of the difference between 埋める (to bury/fill) and 掘る (horu - to dig). They are opposite actions! At A2, you should also begin to notice the particle に (ni) for the location. 'Tsuchi ni umeru' means 'bury in the soil.' You are expanding from just 'burying an object' to 'filling a space' that is empty. This is a key step toward understanding the more abstract uses you will encounter later. Try to use it when talking about your hobbies, like if you buried a time capsule when you were a child.

At the B1 level, you will encounter 埋める (umeru) in more abstract and social contexts. A very common phrase you should master is 'yotei o umeru' (to fill one's schedule). If you are busy and have no free time, you can say 'Yotei ga umatte iru' (My schedule is filled - intransitive) or 'Yotei o umeru' (to fill the schedule - transitive). This level also introduces the concept of 'making up for something' using the compound noun 'ume-awase' (埋め合わせ). For example, if you miss a date with a friend, you might say 'Ume-awase o suru' (I will make it up to you). You are essentially 'filling the hole' left by your absence or mistake. You will also see 埋める used in news articles about land reclamation (umetate) or filling gaps in public services. Your understanding should shift from just 'dirt and holes' to 'filling any kind of empty space or lack.' You should also be comfortable using the potential form 'umerareru' (can bury/fill) and the causative 'umesaseru' (make someone bury/fill).

By B2, you should be able to use 埋める (umeru) to describe complex social and economic situations. It is frequently used in business contexts to describe 'filling a vacancy' (ketsuin o umeru) or 'covering a deficit' (akaji o umeru). In these cases, the 'hole' is a lack of personnel or a lack of money. You will also hear it in more nuanced social descriptions, such as 'mizo o umeru' (to bridge a gap/distance between people). This could refer to a disagreement between friends or a cultural divide between two groups. At this level, you should also be able to distinguish 埋める from similar verbs like 補う (oginau - to supplement) or 満たす (mitasu - to satisfy). 埋める implies that there is a specific 'hole' or 'void' that needs to be leveled out. You might also encounter the passive form in historical contexts, such as 'relics buried in the ground' (chimei ni umerareta iseki). Your vocabulary should include compound words like 'ume-tate-chi' (reclaimed land) and you should understand the environmental and urban planning implications of these terms in Japan.

At the C1 level, your use of 埋める (umeru) should reflect a deep understanding of its metaphorical and literary potential. You might use it to describe psychological states, such as 'filling the loneliness in one's heart' (kokoro no kodoku o umeru) or 'burying one's past' (kakou o umeru) to start a new life. In literature, 埋める can be used to describe how snow covers a landscape (yuki ga machi o umeru), suggesting a total and silent transformation. You should be able to use the verb in sophisticated debates about urban development, discussing the pros and cons of 'umetate' (land reclamation) on marine ecosystems. You will also encounter it in technical or academic writing, such as 'filling the gaps in research' or 'filling the data points' in a statistical model. At this stage, you should be sensitive to the register—knowing when to use 埋める versus more formal kanji compounds like 填補する (tenpo suru - to compensate/fill) or 充填する (juuten suru - to fill/charge). Your mastery allows you to use the word to create vivid imagery in both speech and writing.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like intuition for 埋める (umeru) and its various shades of meaning. You can use it in highly idiomatic ways and understand its use in classical or archaic contexts where it might appear in older literature or legal documents. You are aware of the philosophical implications of 'filling' and 'burying' in Japanese culture, such as the Zen-like acceptance of voids or the frantic modern urge to 'fill every second' (jikan o umeru) with productivity. You can effortlessly switch between the literal, the metaphorical, and the technical. Whether you are discussing the geological process of sedimentation (where layers 'bury' each other), the intricate details of a financial audit (filling the discrepancies), or the poetic description of a person 'buried' in a mountain of books (hon no yama ni umoreru - using the related intransitive/passive nuance), your usage is flawless. You also understand the subtle social cues when someone says they will 'make up for it' (ume-awase), recognizing the level of sincerity and the expected social reciprocation involved.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

埋める in 30 Seconds

Umeru primarily means to bury something physically in the ground or cover it with earth.
It is widely used metaphorically to mean filling gaps in schedules, information, or relationships.
As a transitive Ichidan verb, it requires the particle 'wo' for the object being buried.
Commonly seen in business for 'making up' for mistakes (ume-awase) or covering financial deficits.

The Japanese verb 埋める (umeru) is a versatile and essential term that primary means 'to bury' or 'to fill up.' At its most basic, physical level, it describes the action of putting something into a hole in the ground and covering it with earth or sand. However, as you progress in your Japanese studies, you will find that its utility extends far beyond the garden or a construction site. It is frequently employed to describe filling gaps in time, space, or even abstract concepts like emotional voids or financial deficits.

Literal Usage: This refers to the physical act of burying an object. For example, a dog burying a bone or a pirate burying treasure. It involves the movement of soil or another substance to cover something completely.

庭にタイムカプセルを埋めることにした。
I decided to bury a time capsule in the garden.

Metaphorical Usage: In a non-physical sense, 'umeru' is used to talk about filling a schedule (予定を埋める), making up for a loss (赤字を埋める), or bridging a social gap (溝を埋める). This reflects the Japanese conceptualization of 'filling a void' whether that void is temporal, financial, or relational.

The word carries a nuance of 'completeness.' When you 'umeru' a hole, the goal is usually to make the surface level again. When you 'umeru' your schedule, the implication is that there is no more free space left. This sense of 'filling to capacity' or 'leveling out' is a key component of the word's DNA. In professional settings, you might hear it used when discussing staffing shortages—'filling the vacancy' (欠員を埋める). In romantic or dramatic contexts, it might describe 'filling the hole in one's heart' (心の穴を埋める), showing how deeply this verb is embedded in the Japanese psyche to describe the resolution of any kind of emptiness.

忙しいスケジュールで一日を埋める。
To fill the day with a busy schedule.

Culturally, the concept of 'umeru' is also linked to the idea of 'ume-tate' (reclamation), which is how much of modern Japan, including areas like Odaiba in Tokyo, was created. By 'burying' or filling in parts of the sea with soil and waste, the Japanese have literally expanded their living space. Thus, 'umeru' isn't just about hiding things; it's about creation and utility through filling.

Using 埋める (umeru) correctly requires an understanding of its transitive nature and the specific contexts in which it appears. As an Ichidan verb (Group 2), its conjugation is straightforward, but the particles that accompany it are crucial for clear communication.

The Basic Pattern: The standard structure is: [Subject] が [Object] を [Location] に埋める. Note that the location where something is buried is marked with に (ni), while the object being buried is marked with を (o).

彼は秘密の書類を地面に埋めた。
He buried the secret documents in the ground.

When using the verb for abstract 'filling,' the location particle に (ni) might be replaced or omitted depending on the phrase. For example, in 'filling a gap,' the 'gap' is the object (を).

二人の間の溝を埋めるのは難しい。
It is difficult to bridge (fill) the gap between the two of them.

In business Japanese, 'umeru' is frequently used with 'ume-awase' (埋め合わせ), which means to make up for something. You might say 'I will make up for the mistake' using the phrase '埋め合わせをします'. This is a very common way to take responsibility in a polite, actionable manner.

Common Collocations: 1. 穴を埋める (Fill a hole)
2. 空欄を埋める (Fill in the blanks)
3. 予定を埋める (Fill a schedule)
4. 欠員を埋める (Fill a vacancy)

When you want to describe the state of being buried, you might use the -te iru form: 埋めている (is burying) or the passive 埋められる (is being buried). However, if you are describing a state where something is already buried, the intransitive 埋まっている (umatte iru) is often more natural.

テストの空欄をすべて埋めてください。
Please fill in all the blanks on the test.

埋める (umeru) is a high-frequency verb that you will encounter in various real-life scenarios in Japan, ranging from news broadcasts to casual conversations among friends.

On the News: You will hear this word during reports on natural disasters, such as landslides where houses are 'buried' (though the passive 埋められる or intransitive 埋まる are common here). It also appears in reports about landfill projects (埋め立て工事) or when discussing the national budget and 'filling the deficit' (赤字を埋める).

政府は予算の不足を埋めるために増税を検討している。
The government is considering a tax hike to fill the budget shortfall.

In the Office: Managers and coworkers use 'umeru' when talking about schedules. If a meeting is canceled, they might say, 'We need to fill this time slot' (この時間を埋めないと). It's also used when discussing human resources—filling a position left by someone who resigned.

In daily life, you'll hear it in the kitchen or garden. If you're planting seeds, you might 'bury' them in the soil. If you're filling a container with ice to keep drinks cold, you might use 'umeru' to describe covering the bottles with ice. In casual social planning, if someone says their schedule is 'umatte iru' (intransitive), it means they are fully booked, and you might ask them how they 'filled' it (どうやって予定を埋めたの？).

週末の予定はすべて埋まってしまった。
My weekend schedule has been completely filled up. (Note: Intransitive use)

Lastly, in literature and pop culture (anime/manga), 'umeru' is often used dramatically. A villain might threaten to bury a hero, or a protagonist might talk about 'burying the past' (過去を埋める). This adds a layer of finality and emotional weight to the word.

While 埋める (umeru) seems simple, English speakers often stumble on its transitivity and its distinction from other 'filling' verbs.

1. Transitive vs. Intransitive Confusion: The most common mistake is using 埋める when you should use 埋まる (umaru). 埋める is an action you do to something. 埋まる is something that happens to a space. For example, 'The hole filled up with water' should use 埋まる, not 埋める.

❌ 穴が埋めた。
✅ 穴を埋めた。 (I filled the hole.)
✅ 穴が埋まった。 (The hole was filled.)

2. Umeru vs. Tsumeru (詰める): 'Tsumeru' means to pack or stuff something tightly into a container (like a bento box or a suitcase). 'Umeru' means to fill a gap or bury something. If you are packing a bag, use 詰める. If you are filling a hole in the ground, use 埋める.

Another nuance is the difference between 埋める and 満たす (mitasu). 満たす is used when you are 'satisfying' a requirement or 'filling' a glass with water to the brim with a sense of fulfillment. 埋める is more about the physical or logistical act of covering a hole or a gap. You wouldn't say you 'bury' a glass with water unless you were literally putting the glass in the ground!

期待を満たす (Meet/fill expectations) - Correct
期待を埋める - Incorrect/Awkward

Finally, be careful with the particle に. Beginners often use を for the location. Remember: [Object] を [Location] に埋める.

To truly master 埋める (umeru), you should know its synonyms and how they differ in nuance. Japanese has many words for 'filling' and 'covering,' and choosing the right one depends on the material and the intent.

埋める (Umeru) vs. 葬る (Houmuru): While both can mean 'to bury,' 葬る is specifically used for funerals and interring the dead. It is much more formal and ritualistic. 埋める is used for objects, holes, or general burial.

埋める (Umeru) vs. 塞ぐ (Fusagu): 塞ぐ means 'to block' or 'to plug.' Use this when the goal is to stop something from passing through, like plugging a leak or blocking a road. 埋める is used when the goal is to fill a depression or bury something inside it.

道をふさぐ (Block the road)
穴を埋める (Fill the hole)

埋める (Umeru) vs. 補う (Oginau): 補う means 'to supplement' or 'to make up for a deficiency.' While '赤字を埋める' (fill the deficit) is common, '不足を補う' (supplement the shortage) is used when you are adding something to reach a required level rather than just filling a 'hole.'

In a metaphorical sense, to 'bridge a gap' in a relationship, you can use 溝を埋める (mizo o umeru) or 歩み寄る (ayumiyoru - to step closer to each other). The former emphasizes the removal of the obstacle, while the latter emphasizes the action of the people involved.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji 埋 is also used in the word 'maizoukin' (埋蔵金), which refers to legendary buried gold or hidden treasures from the Edo period that people still search for today.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /u.me.ɾu/

US /u.me.ɾu/

Heiban (Type 0). The pitch starts low and stays high for the rest of the word: u-ME-RU.

Rhymes With

滑る (suberu) 食べる (taberu) 増える (fueru) 見える (mieru) 燃える (moeru) 冷える (hieru) 変える (kaeru) 超える (koeru)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'r' as an English 'r' (it should be a light tap like the 'tt' in 'better').
Stress on the first syllable (U-meru), which is incorrect in standard Japanese.
Vowel lengthening (Umeeru), vowels should be short and crisp.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The kanji 埋 is relatively simple and taught in elementary school (Grade 4).

Writing 3/5

The kanji involves many strokes, but the radical 土 is easy to remember.

Speaking 2/5

Conjugation is easy (Ichidan), but transitivity must be monitored.

Listening 2/5

Distinct sound, but must be distinguished from 'umaru'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

穴 (Hole) 土 (Soil) 入れる (To put in) 予定 (Schedule) 空 (Empty)

Learn Next

掘る (To dig) 補う (To supplement) 満たす (To satisfy) 塞ぐ (To block) 詰める (To pack)

Advanced

填補 (Compensation) 充填 (Filling) 埋没 (Being buried/obscured) 埋蔵 (Buried reserves)

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs (他動詞)

穴を埋める (I fill the hole) vs 穴が埋まる (The hole is filled).

Ichidan Verb Conjugation

埋める -> 埋めます, 埋めて, 埋めない, 埋めた.

The particle 'ni' for location

土に埋める (Bury in the soil).

The particle 'de' for means/material

土で埋める (Fill with soil).

Compound Verbs with -komu

埋め込む (To embed something deeply inside).

Examples by Level

犬が庭に骨を埋める。

The dog buries a bone in the garden.

Simple transitive verb usage with を and に.

ここに種を埋めてください。

Please bury the seeds here.

Using -te kudasai for a polite request.

子供が砂浜で足を埋める。

The child buries their feet in the sandy beach.

Literal physical burial in sand.

宝物を箱に入れて埋めた。

I put the treasure in a box and buried it.

Past tense 'umeta'.

穴を土で埋めます。

I will fill the hole with soil.

Using 'de' to indicate the material used to fill.

猫がゴミを埋めている。

The cat is burying the trash.

Present continuous '-te iru'.

どんぐりを土に埋めよう。

Let's bury the acorn in the soil.

Volitional form '-you' (Let's...).

彼は何も埋めなかった。

He didn't bury anything.

Negative past tense '-nakatta'.

テストの空欄を埋める。

Fill in the blanks on the test.

Metaphorical use for filling information.

この穴を埋めてもいいですか？

Is it okay if I fill this hole?

Using '-te mo ii desu ka' for permission.

名前を書いて、空欄を埋めました。

I wrote my name and filled the blank.

Sequential actions with '-te' form.

花を植えるために穴を埋めた。

I filled the hole to plant flowers.

Using 'tame ni' to express purpose.

雪が道を埋めている。

Snow is covering (burying) the road.

Natural phenomenon acting as the subject.

プリントの空白を全部埋めてください。

Please fill in all the empty spaces on the handout.

Using 'zenbu' (all) with umeru.

ゴミをここに埋めないでください。

Please do not bury trash here.

Negative request '-nai de kudasai'.

彼は毎日日記のページを埋める。

He fills the pages of his diary every day.

Abstract use for writing.

来週の予定を会議で埋める。

Fill next week's schedule with meetings.

Common B1 context for time management.

遅刻の埋め合わせをしたい。

I want to make up for being late.

Using the noun form 'ume-awase' with 'suru'.

この溝を埋めるのは大変だ。

It is hard to bridge this gap.

Metaphorical use for social or physical distance.

彼は借金を埋めるために働いた。

He worked to cover (fill) his debt.

Financial context for covering a loss.

空いた時間を読書で埋める。

Fill the free time with reading.

Using 'de' to show the activity used to fill time.

欠員を埋めるために新しい人を雇う。

Hire a new person to fill the vacancy.

Business context for staffing.

彼は悲しみを仕事で埋めようとした。

He tried to fill his sadness with work.

Emotional context for filling a void.

海を埋めて新しい土地を作る。

Fill in the sea to create new land.

Context of land reclamation (umetate).

赤字を埋めるための対策が必要だ。

Measures are needed to cover the deficit.

Formal business/economic context.

彼らの間の感情的な溝を埋める。

Bridge the emotional gap between them.

Abstract psychological context.

不足しているデータを埋めてください。

Please fill in the missing data.

Technical context for information processing.

沈黙を埋めるために話し続けた。

I kept talking to fill the silence.

Social context: filling silence.

このプロジェクトで損失を埋められる。

We can cover the losses with this project.

Potential form 'umerareru'.

彼は自分の過去を完全に埋めた。

He completely buried his past.

Metaphorical use for forgetting/hiding the past.

会場を花で埋め尽くした。

They filled the entire venue with flowers.

Using the auxiliary verb '-tsukusu' (to do completely).

都市開発のために池を埋める。

Fill in the pond for urban development.

Construction and planning context.

理論の空白を埋める研究を行う。

Conduct research to fill the gaps in the theory.

Academic/Research context.

彼は孤独を埋めるために都会へ出た。

He went to the city to fill his loneliness.

Literary/Nuanced emotional context.

交渉によって双方の隔たりを埋める。

Bridge the distance between both sides through negotiation.

Formal diplomatic/business context.

そのニュースは新聞の紙面を埋めた。

That news filled the pages of the newspaper.

Media context: filling space.

伝統と現代の間の溝を埋める試み。

An attempt to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.

Cultural/Sociological context.

彼女は沈黙を埋める術を知っていた。

She knew the art (way) of filling the silence.

Literary use of 'sube' (way/method).

予算の穴を埋めるのは容易ではない。

It is not easy to fill the hole in the budget.

Idiomatic use of 'ana' (hole) for budget gaps.

埋め立て地の上に巨大なビルが建つ。

Huge buildings stand on the reclaimed land.

Context of 'umetate-chi' (reclaimed land).

歴史の闇に埋められた真実を暴く。

Uncover the truth buried in the darkness of history.

Highly literary/dramatic passive usage.

彼は言葉でその空虚さを埋めようとした。

He tried to fill that emptiness with words.

Philosophical/Existential context.

制度の不備を埋めるための法改正。

Legal amendments to fill the deficiencies in the system.

Formal legal/political context.

情報の断片を繋ぎ合わせ、空白を埋める。

Connect the fragments of information to fill the blanks.

Context of synthesis and deduction.

自己と他者の境界を埋めることは可能か。

Is it possible to bridge (fill) the boundary between self and other?

Philosophical inquiry.

その作品は観客の期待を埋めて余りある。

That work more than fills (surpasses) the audience's expectations.

Idiomatic expression 'umete amari aru'.

資源の枯渇を埋める代替エネルギー。

Alternative energy to fill the gap of resource depletion.

Scientific/Environmental context.

深淵な孤独を埋める唯一の手段。

The sole means to fill a profound loneliness.

High-level literary vocabulary like 'shinen' (profound/abyss).

Common Collocations

穴を埋める

予定を埋める

空欄を埋める

赤字を埋める

溝を埋める

欠員を埋める

沈黙を埋める

土に埋める

空白を埋める

損失を埋める

Common Phrases

埋め合わせをする

— To make up for a mistake, absence, or inconvenience. It literally means 'to do the filling of the gap.'

昨日の埋め合わせにランチをご馳走するよ。

穴埋め問題

— A fill-in-the-blank question on a test or worksheet.

穴埋め問題は得意です。

予定が埋まる

— To have one's schedule completely filled. (Intransitive usage)

今日はもう予定が埋まっています。

埋め立て地

— Reclaimed land, created by filling in a body of water.

東京ディズニーランドは埋め立て地にあります。

身を埋める

— To bury oneself in something, often metaphorically like work or a hobby.

彼は仕事に身を埋めている。

歴史に埋もれる

— To be buried in history (forgotten). (Related intransitive)

名もなき英雄が歴史に埋もれている。

顔を埋める

— To bury one's face (e.g., in a pillow or someone's chest).

枕に顔を埋めて泣いた。

雪に埋もれる

— To be buried in snow. (Related intransitive)

家が雪に埋もれてしまった。

間を埋める

— To fill the pause or interval in time or space.

話の合間の時間を埋める。

心の穴を埋める

— To fill the void in one's heart, usually after a loss.

新しい趣味が心の穴を埋めてくれた。

Often Confused With

埋める vs 埋まる (umaru)

This is the intransitive version. Use it when something gets buried or filled on its own.

埋める vs 詰める (tsumeru)

Use this for packing or stuffing things tightly into a space.

埋める vs 塞ぐ (fusagu)

Use this for blocking or plugging an opening.

Idioms & Expressions

"墓場まで持っていく"

— To take a secret to the grave (to bury it forever).

この秘密は墓場まで持っていく。

Casual/Dramatic

"溝を埋める"

— To bridge a gap in understanding or resolve a conflict.

二人の溝を埋めるのは時間がかかる。

Neutral

"穴を埋める"

— To fill a vacancy or cover a loss.

彼が辞めた穴を埋めるのは大変だ。

Neutral/Business

"埋め合わせをする"

— To compensate for a failure or missed opportunity.

埋め合わせは必ずするよ。

Neutral

"骨を埋める"

— To settle down somewhere for the rest of one's life (to bury one's bones there).

私はこの町に骨を埋める覚悟だ。

Literary/Serious

"形勢を挽回して穴を埋める"

— To turn the situation around and cover one's previous failures.

後半戦で穴を埋める活躍をした。

Sports/Business

"空白の時間を埋める"

— To fill the missing period in a history or personal story.

失われた記憶の空白を埋める。

Literary

"沈黙を埋める"

— To say something just to avoid an awkward silence.

彼は冗談で沈黙を埋めた。

Social

"土に帰る"

— To return to the earth (to be buried and decompose).

人はいつか土に帰る。

Philosophical

"闇に葬る"

— To bury in the dark (to cover up a scandal or truth).

事件は闇に葬られた。

Dramatic/News

Easily Confused

埋める vs 貯める (tameru)

Similar sound to beginners.

Tameru means to accumulate or save (money/water). Umeru means to bury or fill a gap.

お金を貯める (Save money) vs 赤字を埋める (Cover a deficit).

埋める vs 温める (atatameru)

Ends in -meru.

Atatameru means to heat up or warm something. Umeru is to bury.

スープを温める (Warm the soup).

埋める vs 決める (kimeru)

Ends in -meru.

Kimeru means to decide. Umeru is to bury.

予定を決める (Decide the schedule) vs 予定を埋める (Fill the schedule).

埋める vs 止める (yameru)

Ends in -meru.

Yameru means to quit or stop. Umeru is to bury.

仕事を辞める (Quit a job).

埋める vs 集める (atsumeru)

Ends in -meru.

Atsumeru means to collect things together. Umeru is to bury/fill.

切手を集める (Collect stamps).

Sentence Patterns

[Object] を埋める

穴を埋める。

[Location] に [Object] を埋める

庭に宝物を埋める。

[Object] を [Material] で埋める

穴を砂で埋める。

[Time/Schedule] を埋める

週末を予定で埋める。

[Mistake] の埋め合わせをする

遅刻の埋め合わせをする。

[Abstract Gap] を埋める

心の穴を埋める。

[Financial Deficit] を埋める

赤字を埋める。

[Relationship Gap] を埋める

二人の間の溝を埋める。

Word Family

Nouns

埋め立て (umetate - reclamation)

埋め合わせ (umeawase - compensation)

埋蔵 (maizou - buried property/reserves)

Verbs

埋まる (umaru - to be buried [intransitive])

埋め込む (umekomu - to embed)

埋め立てる (umetateru - to reclaim land)

Adjectives

埋もれた (umoreta - buried/hidden [from verb])

穴 (ana - hole)

土 (tsuchi - soil)

空間 (kuukan - space)

補填 (hoten - filling/compensation)

補充 (hojuu - replenishment)

How to Use It

frequency

High (Common in daily life, business, and news).

Common Mistakes

Using 'ga' instead of 'wo' for the object. → 穴を埋める
埋める is transitive. Using 'ga' would require the intransitive form '埋まる'.
Using 'umeru' for packing a bag. → 鞄に荷物を詰める
Umeru is for filling gaps/burying. Tsumeru is for packing things in.
Using 'ni' for the object. → 空欄を埋める
The blank space is the object being filled, so it takes 'wo'.
Confusing 'umeru' with 'umaru' in schedule talk. → 予定が埋まっている (My schedule is full)
If you say 'Yotei o umete iru', it sounds like you are actively looking for things to do to fill it.
Using 'umeru' for pouring water into a glass. → コップに水を注ぐ
Umeru is not used for liquids in containers in that way.

Tips

Particle Check

Always use 'wo' for the thing being buried and 'ni' for the place it goes. 'Tsuchi ni takara o umeru'.

Busy Schedule

If someone asks for your time and you're busy, say 'Yotei ga umatte imasu'. It sounds very natural.

Compound Power

Learn 'ume-awase'. It's a powerful word for maintaining relationships after a mistake.

Radical Hint

The left side of 埋 is 土 (earth), which tells you it involves the ground.

Filling vs. Packing

Don't use 'umeru' for packing a suitcase; use 'tsumeru'. 'Umeru' is for gaps and holes.

Conflict Resolution

Use 'mizo o umeru' in formal discussions about resolving differences between parties.

News Keyword

Watch for 'umetate' in news about artificial islands or construction.

Filling the Heart

In lyrics or stories, 'kokoro no ana o umeru' is a very common romantic/dramatic trope.

Flat Pitch

Keep your voice level. Don't drop the pitch at the end of 'umeru'.

Remember 'Horu'

Associate 'umeru' (bury) with 'horu' (dig) to remember both as a pair.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are in a **ME**adow. You find a **U**FO. You decide to **bury** it so no one finds it. You use a **RU**sty shovel. **U-ME-RU**.

Visual Association

Picture a dog burying a bone (literal) and then picture someone drawing lines on a calendar to 'bury' their free time (metaphorical).

Word Web

Soil Hole Schedule Gap Deficit Blank Landfill Secret

Challenge

Try to use 'umeru' in three different ways today: once for a physical object, once for your schedule, and once for a mistake you want to make up for.

Word Origin

The word 'umeru' comes from Old Japanese. The kanji 埋 consists of 土 (earth/soil) and 里 (village/settlement).

Original meaning: To place something within the earth of a settlement, implying hiding or storing within the ground.

Japonic

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'umeru' when talking about people; it can sound violent or morbid unless used in very specific idioms like 'hone o umeru'.

In English, 'bury' and 'fill' are separate verbs. In Japanese, 'umeru' covers both, which can be confusing for learners who think only of dirt.

埋蔵金 (Maizoukin) - Japanese legends of buried treasure. Land reclamation projects in Tokyo Bay. Anime tropes where characters 'bury' their past.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Gardening/Nature

種を埋める
穴を土で埋める
落ち葉を埋める
苗を埋める

Education/Testing

空欄を埋める
空白を埋める
答えを埋める
枠を埋める

Time Management

予定を埋める
カレンダーを埋める
時間を埋める
枠を埋める

Business/Finance

赤字を埋める
欠員を埋める
損失を埋める
埋め合わせをする

Relationships

溝を埋める
距離を埋める
沈黙を埋める
心の穴を埋める

Conversation Starters

"子供の頃、何かを庭に埋めたことはありますか？ (Did you ever bury anything in the garden as a child?)"

"忙しい時、どうやって予定を埋めますか？ (When you are busy, how do you fill your schedule?)"

"テストの穴埋め問題は好きですか？ (Do you like fill-in-the-blank questions on tests?)"

"失敗した時、どうやって埋め合わせをしますか？ (When you make a mistake, how do you make up for it?)"

"最近、何か新しい趣味で心の空白を埋めましたか？ (Have you filled any void in your heart with a new hobby lately?)"

Journal Prompts

もしタイムカプセルを埋めるとしたら、何を入れますか？ (If you were to bury a time capsule, what would you put in it?)

自分のスケジュールの埋め方について書いてください。 (Write about how you fill your schedule.)

過去の失敗をどう埋め合わせしたかについて。 (About how you made up for a past mistake.)

誰かとの心の溝を埋めた経験はありますか？ (Have you had an experience of bridging a gap with someone?)

現代社会で人々が孤独を埋めるためにしていること。 (What people do to fill loneliness in modern society.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, for a glass of water, use 'tsugu' (to pour) or 'mitasu' (to fill/satisfy). 埋める implies filling a hole or a gap.

埋める is the general verb for burying or filling. 埋め立てる specifically refers to large-scale land reclamation projects, like filling in the sea.

It can be used for the physical act of burying a casket, but '葬る' (houmuru) is the more respectful and formal term for the entire funeral process.

You say '空欄を埋める' (kuuran o umeru) or '穴埋めをする' (anaume o suru).

Yes, if you bury something to keep it from being seen, it functions as a way of hiding it. However, the focus is on the act of burying.

It means 'My schedule is full.' It's a very common way to say you are busy.

It is a Group 2 (Ichidan) verb. The stem is 'ume-'.

The Japanese equivalent for resolving a conflict is '溝を埋める' (mizo o umeru - to bridge the gap) or '和解する' (wakai suru - to reconcile).

It means 'compensation' or 'making up for something.' It is often used in social apologies.

Yes, it is a Jōyō kanji taught in the 4th grade of elementary school.