How to say "hole" in Japanese

• 穴あなJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a hole in a wall, the ground, clothing or the body; it also covers openings, orifices and perforations. When you simply mean 'a hole', this is the word.
  そして各かくチームはボールを蹴けってこの穴あなに通とおそうと互たがいに競い合きそいあったのです。↗

  And the teams competed with each other to try to kick the ball through this hole.
• ホールCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword, used in golf, where a course is counted in holes, and in technical contexts; for an ordinary hole in a wall or a sock, 穴 is the word.
• 洞ほらCommon
  nounPoints to hollows, cavities and caves rather than a hole in a surface; for an ordinary hole it is seldom the word you want — use 穴 instead.
• 口くちJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounAn opening or orifice — the 'mouth' of a container, passage or gap — rather than a hole pierced in something. Choose it when the emphasis is on an entrance things go in and out of.
  私わたしたちはそのまま洞窟どうくつの口くちにボートで突っ込つっこんで行いきました。↗

  We plunged into the cave opening on our boat and continued on.

Use 穴 for an ordinary hole in something, 口 for an opening or orifice you enter or pass through, 「ホール」 for loanword contexts such as golf, and 洞 for hollows, cavities and caves.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 穴あなhole
• ホールhole
• 洞ほらhollow
• 虚うろhollow
• 穴ぼこあなぼこhole
• 正孔せいこうelectron hole
• 闕所けっしょgap
• やぶれtear
• 裂孔れっこうhiatus
• 空孔くうこう(electron) hole
• 口くちopening
• 針孔めどhole
• エイチhole
• けつhole