Japanese word

彫る

Pronunciation

Romajihoru

Meaning

  • verbcarve

Example

木を彫ります。ki o ho ri ma su

I carve wood.

Illustration for 彫る (carve)

More examples

職人は木の表面に細かな模様を彫ります。shoku nin wa ki no hyō men ni koma ka na mo yō o ho ri ma su

The craftsman carves a detailed pattern into the surface of the wood.

Core concept

Describes removing material from wood, stone, or another solid with a tool so that a design or form emerges.

Common phrases

  • 文字を彫るmoji o ho ru

    carve letters

  • 名前を彫るna mae o ho ru

    carve a name

  • 木を彫るki o ho ru

    carve wood

  • 石を彫るishi o ho ru

    carve stone

Similar words

削るkezuru: To remove part of a solid with a tool, often to reduce or smooth its surface.
刻むkizamu: To cut a pattern or marks into the surface of a solid material.

Definition in Japanese

木や石などを刃物で削って、形や模様を作る。ki ya ishi na do o ha mono de kezu tte katachi ya mo yō o tsuku ru

Word origin

彫る (horu) is a native Japanese verb, and its continuative form 彫り (hori, "carving") is used as a noun.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 彫る (horu) covers both making a three-dimensional figure and cutting a design into a surface, so its range is wider than English engrave.

Other meanings

  • engraveverb
  • sculptverb
  • chiselverb

Related words

  • 彫り師horishicarvernoun
  • 彫りhoricarvingnoun
  • 彫り方horikataway of carvingnoun

Word lists with this word