掘る

ほる
JLPT:N2
Frequency:

1To dig or excavate—to make a hole or hollow in the ground or soil.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

庭に木を植えるため、穴を掘った。

I dug a hole to plant a tree in the garden.

子どもたちは砂浜で穴を掘って遊んだ。

The children played by digging holes on the beach.

工事現場ではショベルカーが地面を掘っていた。

At the construction site, an excavator was digging up the ground.

2(Figurative) To delve into something—to investigate or dig deeper into a topic or issue.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

記者はその事件をさらに掘って真相に迫った。

The reporter dug deeper into the case and got closer to the truth.

この話題はもう少し掘ってみる価値がある。

This topic is worth digging into a bit more.

3To dig up something like vegetables or treasure, or to mine minerals, coal, etc.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

秋になったらさつまいもを掘りに行こう。

Let's go dig up sweet potatoes when autumn comes.

この山では昔、金を掘っていたそうだ。

I hear they used to mine gold in this mountain long ago.

4Vulgar slang used in a sexual context between men, referring to taking the active/penetrating role. Not appropriate for everyday or polite conversation.

Group 1 VerbTransitive VerbSlangVulgar Expression or Word

Word Relationships

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