Japanese Conversation · Level 28
90 words
Japanese word
掘る
Pronunciation
Romajihoru
Meaning
- verbdig
Example
子どもたちは砂場で穴を掘ります。ko do mo ta chi wa suna ba de ana o ho ri ma su
The children dig a hole in the sandbox.
More examples
雨水がたまらないように、父は庭に溝を掘りました。ama mizu ga ta ma ra na i yō ni chichi wa niwa ni mizo o ho ri ma shi ta
To keep rainwater from collecting, my father dug a ditch in the yard.
Core concept
It centers on creating an opening or hollow space by taking material out from the ground or from an object.
Common phrases
穴を掘るana o ho ru
dig a hole
溝を掘るmizo o ho ru
dig a ditch
トンネルを掘るto n ne ru o ho ru
dig a tunnel
Similar words
えぐるeguru: To gouge out material from a surface or interior, leaving a deep hollow or groove.
くり抜くkurinuku: To remove the inner part of an object by cutting around it and leaving an opening.
掘り出すhoridasu: To uncover and take out something that is buried in soil or another material.
Definition in Japanese
地面や物の中から土・砂・木などを取り除き、穴を作る。ji men ya mono no naka ka ra tsuchi suna ki na do o to ri nozo ki ana o tsuku ru
Word origin
掘る (horu) is a native Japanese verb; its stem 掘り (hori) combines with 出す (dasu, "take out") in 掘り出す (horidasu), "dig out".
Usage tips
- Unlike the informal English verb dig meaning "like" or "understand," 掘る (horu) normally describes physically removing material to make a hole.