Translation and Meaning of: 掘る - horu

The Japanese word 「掘る」 (horu) is a verb that means "to dig" or "to excavate". This term is often associated with the action of removing earth or making holes in the ground, and it is widely used in contexts involving gardening, construction, or archaeology. The word is composed of two kanji: 「掘」, which is used exclusively to represent the act of digging, reflecting a physical and practical action.

From an etymological point of view, the kanji 「掘」 is formed by two elements: the radical 「扌」, which is related to manual actions or those done with the hands, indicating the use of tools or the movement of earth, and the phonetic part 「屈」, which suggests the sound and contributes to the overall meaning of the verb. The conjunction of these elements provides a clear view of the action performed, associating the act of digging earth with physical effort.

Thus, 「掘る」 not only describes a movement but also evokes images of people engaged in physical outdoor tasks, with a strong connection to the earth. The practice of digging dates back to the dawn of civilization, being essential for agriculture, construction, and exploration of natural resources. In modern Japanese, this word still carries the connotation of diligent work, often associated with manual and traditional tasks.

There are some variations and derived uses of the expression 「掘る」 in different contexts. For example, in more formal or specific contexts, it can be used to describe the act of deepening a certain knowledge or search, being used metaphorically for a thorough investigation. Additionally, in a more figurative sense, it can be associated with "unearthing" hidden information or facts.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 掘削する (Kussaku suru) - Dig, perform the excavation.
• 掘り起こす (Horiokosu) - Unearth, lift something that is buried.
• 掘り出す (Horidasu) - Extract, dig and bring out something that is buried.
• 掘り出し物 (Horidashimono) - A valuable or rare item that was unearthed; a valuable discovery.
• 掘り返す (Horikaesu) - To turn over or dig again a place for what was lost or buried.
• 掘り下げる (Horisageru) - Dig deeper, deepen an excavation.
• 掘り出し物を探す (Horidashimono o sagasu) - Search for valuable or rare items.
• 掘り出し物を見つける (Horidashimono o mitsukeru) - Find a valuable or rare item.
• 掘り当てる (Horiateru) - To find or unearth something by digging.
• 掘り出し者 (Horidashimono-sha) - That person who digs up or finds valuable items.
• 掘り出し物を手に入れる (Horidashimono o te ni ireru) - Obtain a valuable item.
• 掘り出し物を掘り当てる (Horidashimono o horiateru) - Uncover or discover a valuable item while digging.
• 掘り出し物を見つけ出す (Horidashimono o mitsukedasu) - Discovering or finding a valuable item.
• 掘り出し物を掘り起こす (Horidashimono o horiokosu) - Unearthing a valuable item.
• 掘り出し物を探し出す (Horidashimono o sagashidasu) - Search and find a valuable item.

掘る

Romaji: horu
Kana: ほる
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: to dig; dig

Meaning in English: to dig;to excavate

Definition: Dig a hole in the ground using a tool or your hands.

Example Sentences - (掘る) horu

See below some example sentences:

私たちは庭に穴を掘りました。

Watashitachi wa niwa ni ana o horimashita

We dug a hole in the garden.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 庭 - "Jardim" in Japanese
• に - Location particle in Japanese
• 穴 - "Buraco" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 掘りました - "Digging" in Japanese