Translation guide
The English word 'crowded' describes a place with many people, often uncomfortably so. In Japanese, the most common equivalents are 混んでいる (konde iru) for general crowdedness and 満員 (man'in) for 'full house' situations. The choice depends on what is crowded and the nuance you want to convey.
To say a place is crowded with people, like a street, store, or event.
The most common and versatile way to say a place is crowded. It implies a bustling, sometimes uncomfortable density of people.
この店はいつも混んでいる。
This store is always crowded.
The station was really crowded.
A slightly more formal version of 混んでいる, often used in announcements or written descriptions. It emphasizes congestion.
道路が混雑しています。
The roads are congested.
Literally 'full of people', this is a casual, emphatic way to say a place is packed.
公園が人でいっぱいだった。
The park was packed with people.
Describes a chaotic, jumbled crowd, like a busy festival or scramble crossing. Stronger than 混んでいる.
祭り会場はごった返していた。
The festival venue was swarming with people.
To say a vehicle or venue is full to capacity, often with no room to move.
Means 'full house' or 'packed to capacity'. Commonly used for trains, buses, and events. Often appears as 満員電車 (packed train).
電車が満員で乗れなかった。
The train was so crowded I couldn't get on.
映画館は満員だった。
The movie theater was full.
Literally 'packed like sushi', this vividly describes a space where people are squeezed tightly together, like a rush-hour train.
Specifically means 'all seats taken', used for restaurants, theaters, or planes.
To emphasize that a place is excessively crowded, often uncomfortably so.
Simply adds すぎる (too much) to 混む, meaning 'too crowded'.
このビーチは混みすぎている。
This beach is too crowded.
A formal term for overpopulation or excessive density, often used in urban planning contexts.
過密都市の問題
problems of overcrowded cities
混んでいる is a general state of being crowded. 満員 means 'at full capacity' and is often used for enclosed spaces like trains or rooms. You can say 電車が混んでいる (the train is crowded) but 満員電車 emphasizes it's packed to the limit.
English uses 'crowded with [things/people]', but Japanese usually uses でいっぱい (full of) or が多い (there are many). For example, 'streets crowded with tourists' is 観光客でいっぱいの通り, not a direct translation of 'crowded'.
電車が混んでいて身動きできなかった。
The train was so crowded I couldn't move.
そのレストランは週末混んでいますか？
Is the restaurant crowded on weekends?
通勤電車はすし詰め状態だ。
The commuter train is jam-packed.
レストランは満席でした。
The restaurant was fully booked (all seats taken).