堀・濠・壕|ほりhori[2]odaka (tail-high)
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Which spelling to use
堀堀 is the most common written form, and it is the form beginners should normally choose when writing this word.
濠For beginners, 濠 is a less common alternative to 堀; choose 堀 when you need to select a form yourself.
壕壕 is less common than both 堀 and 濠. For beginners, choose 堀 when selecting a written form yourself.
Definitions
- nounmoat; fosse
- nouncanal; ditch
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym壕ごうWritten「壕」 is a written word for the deep ditches dug around castles or for wartime trenches and air-raid shelters, with a military-defense emphasis.
- Synonym溝みぞNeutralRead どぶ, this neutral word is a drainage ditch for dirty water and carries a grimy feel; 「堀」 is larger and usually part of castle defenses.
- Synonym堀割ほりわりWritten「堀割」 is a written word for a man-made waterway or canal, stressing that water flows through it; 「堀」 most often means a castle moat.
- RelatedどぶNeutralRead どぶ, this neutral word is a drainage ditch for dirty water and carries a grimy feel; 「堀」 is larger and usually part of castle defenses.
- Related澪みおWrittenA written term for the channel ships travel along or a ship's wake, quite different from the castle-defense 「堀」.
- Related堀切りほりきりWrittenA rare word for a man-made water channel or castle moat; 「堀」 is the usual choice.
Use 「堀」 for a castle moat or man-made waterway; 「壕」 for trenches and air-raid shelters; 「どぶ」 for a dirty drainage ditch; 「澪」 for a shipping channel. 「堀割」 and 「堀切り」 are rare written words for artificial channels.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
