掘る|ほるhoru[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto dig; to excavate; to hollow
- godan verb, transitive verbto delve into
- godan verb, transitive verbto dig up (vegetables, treasure, etc.); to mine (coal, ore, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto top; to take the active role in anal sex (with another man)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 掘る（ほる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 掘ります（ほります） |
| Negative (nai) | 掘らない（ほらない） |
| polite (masen) | 掘りません（ほりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 掘らず・掘らぬ（ほらず・ほらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 掘った（ほった） |
| polite (mashita) | 掘りました（ほりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 掘らなかった（ほらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 掘りませんでした（ほりませんでした） |
| Te form | 掘って（ほって） |
| Potential | 掘れる（ほれる） |
| Passive | 掘られる（ほられる） |
| Causative | 掘らせる（ほらせる） |
| Causative passive | 掘らせられる・掘らされる（ほらせられる・ほらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 掘れば（ほれば） |
| tara | 掘ったら（ほったら） |
| Volitional | 掘ろう（ほろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 掘りましょう（ほりましょう） |
| Imperative | 掘れ（ほれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym掘り出すほりだすNeutralMeans digging out something buried, and figuratively unearthing a good find; 「掘る」 focuses on the act of digging itself.
- Synonym掘り起こすほりおこすNeutralMeans digging something up and bringing it to the surface, also figuratively unearthing talent or old matters; 「掘る」 is broader.
- Related採掘さいくつWrittenWritten-style term for mining minerals or coal, with an industrial feel; 「掘る」 is the everyday act of digging.
- Relatedくり抜くくりぬくNeutralMeans hollowing out the middle, as with a pumpkin lantern; 「掘る」 is digging a hole or digging up something buried.
- Related掘り進むほりすすむNeutralMeans digging onward through earth or rock, as when driving a tunnel; 「掘る」 does not stress forward movement.
- Related掘進くっしんWrittenWritten engineering term for tunnelling, advancing a tunnel or bore underground; not used for everyday digging.
- Antonym埋めるうずめるNeutralRead うずめる; means to bury or fill up completely, the opposite of digging with 「掘る」.
Use 「掘る」 for digging holes, excavating, or delving into a subject. For digging out something buried say 「掘り出す」, for unearthing 「掘り起こす」, for mining 「採掘」, for hollowing out 「くり抜く」, and for burying 「埋める」.
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
