穴・孔|あなana[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounhole; opening; orifice; perforation
   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.
2. nounpit; hollow; cavity; hole (e.g. in the ground)
3. nounburrow; den; lair; holt; hole
4. noundeficit; shortage; (financial) hole; loss
5. noungap (left by a missing employee, team member, etc.); vacancy; opening
   ミーティングに穴あなをあけてしまったことに対たいし、再度さいどお詫わびします。↗

   Let me apologize once again for missing our meeting.
6. nounflaw; fault; defect; weak point; hole (in a theory, plan, etc.); loophole
7. noungood place not many people know about; well-kept secret
8. nounupset victory (with a large payoff); long shot; dark horse
9. noun(partitioned) box (type of floor seating in a traditional Japanese theatre)theatre jargon
10. nounhiding place; hideout

• Synonym洞ほらNeutralA hollow or cave formed in a cliff or large tree trunk, as in 「洞穴」; 「穴」 is the general word for holes of all kinds.
• Synonym空洞くうどうWrittenWritten word for a hollow space inside something, as in 「空洞化」; also figurative for content that is empty or hollow.
• Synonym短所たんしょNeutralA person's or thing's weak points, the opposite of 「長所」, as in 「短所を直す」.
• Synonym穴隙けつげきWrittenWritten word for a narrow crevice in rock or a wall; not used in everyday speech — just say 「隙間」.
• Synonym虚ろうつろWrittenA written word for a hollow space inside something, but more often for vacant eyes or a hollow voice, as in 「虚ろな目」.
• Synonym虚うろWrittenWritten word read 「うろ」 for a hollow inside a tree trunk or the like; rare in daily use — just say 「穴」.
• Synonym穿孔せんこうWrittenWritten term for perforation: boring a hole, a hole opening up, or the resulting hole, as in 「胃穿孔」 (gastric perforation); mostly medical and engineering.
• Related傷きずNeutralA wound, scratch or flaw, as in 「車に傷がつく」; 「穴」 is a hole that pierces through or is sunk in.
• Related欠点けってんNeutralShortcomings or weaknesses of a person or thing; matches 「穴」 when it figuratively means a gap or weak point, as in 「計画の穴」.
• Related難点なんてんNeutralA drawback or difficult point, as in 「値段が高いのが難点だ」; usually one shortcoming of the whole.
• Related不備ふびWrittenWritten word for incomplete preparations or procedures, as in 「書類の不備」; 「穴」 for a loophole is more colloquial.
• Related汚点おてんWrittenWritten word for a stain or blot; figuratively a disgraceful episode in one's record, as in 「経歴の汚点」; not a physical hole.
• Related瑕疵かしWrittenWritten word for a defect; used in law and for flaws in writing or argument, as in 「瑕疵担保」「論証の瑕疵」.
• Related凹みへこみNeutralA dent or hollow in a surface, as in 「地面の窪み」; 「穴」 is usually deeper or goes right through.
• Related非ひWrittenWritten word for a fault or wrongdoing, as in 「非を認める」; about being in the wrong, never a physical hole.
• RelatedデメリットNeutralLoanword for a disadvantage or drawback, the opposite of 「メリット」; common when weighing pros and cons.
• Related欠陥けっかんNeutralA missing element that should be there, as in 「欠陥商品」 or 「構造上の欠陥」; a stronger, more serious defect.
• Related虚うろWrittenWritten word read 「うろ」 for a hollow inside a tree trunk or the like; rare in daily use — just say 「穴」.
• Related穴ぼこあなぼこCasualColloquial word for a pothole or dip in the ground or road surface, as in 「道の穴ぼこ」.
• Related不具合ふぐあいNeutralA machine or product not working properly, as in 「システムの不具合」; a technical-leaning term for a glitch or fault.
• Related疵瑕しかWrittenWritten word, the characters of 「瑕疵」 in reverse order; same meaning, a defect, and very rarely used.
• AntonymでこNeutralA bump or protruding part, also the forehead; the shape opposite of a sunken 「穴」.
• Antonym盛り上がりもりあがりNeutralA raised or bulging part, the shape opposite of a sunken 「穴」; also often a surge of excitement.

For holes, pits and openings, 「穴」 is the default. Use 「穴ぼこ」 for potholes in a road and 「窪み」 for shallow dips. When 「穴」 figuratively means a gap or weak point, say 「欠点」 or 「短所」 for shortcomings, 「不具合」 or 「欠陥」 for product faults, and 「不備」 for incomplete preparations or documents. 「凸」 and 「盛り上がり」 are its shape opposites.

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

1. （あな）欠かけたり抜ぬけたりしているものや所ところ。