How to say "excavation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 発掘はっくつnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers excavation as unearthing something buried: an archaeological dig at a site of ancient ruins, a fossil find, or the exhumation of human remains; the nuance is bringing what was hidden to light.
- 掘削くっさくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers excavation as the physical act of digging out earth or rock, as at a construction site or when cutting a tunnel; it does not carry the sense of unearthing or exhuming something.
Use 発掘 when something buried is being dug up—ruins, fossils, or remains (it also covers exhumation)—and 掘削 for the physical excavation of earth or rock, as in construction or engineering work.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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