Translation guide
To search through something by moving things around, often in a messy or thorough way. Can be literal (digging through a pile) or figurative (digging through data).
To look for something by moving items around, often creating disorder.
Literally 'stir up and search'. Used when you rummage through something, moving things around to find an item.
バッグの中をかき回して鍵を探した。
I dug through my bag looking for my keys.
To rummage, fish around, or scavenge. Often used for searching through things like drawers, pockets, or even trash.
引き出しを漁って書類を探した。
I dug through the drawer looking for the document.
To search around, go through various places. Implies moving from one spot to another while searching.
家中を探し回ってやっと見つけた。
I dug through the whole house and finally found it.
Literally 'dig up and turn over'. Used for physically digging through soil, rubble, or piles. Can be metaphorical for digging up old issues.
庭を掘り返して埋めた宝物を探した。
I dug through the garden looking for the buried treasure.
To examine a large amount of information thoroughly to find something.
To investigate thoroughly, exhaustively search through information.
彼は過去の記録を調べ尽くして証拠を見つけた。
He dug through past records and found evidence.
To search thoroughly. A straightforward way to express digging through information.
データを徹底的に探してエラーを見つけた。
I dug through the data and found the error.
To examine every nook and cranny, leave no stone unturned. Emphasizes completeness.
警察は彼の経歴を洗いざらい調べた。
The police dug through his background thoroughly.
To physically or metaphorically wade through something difficult, dirty, or tedious.
To push through, force one's way through a mass of things. Used for physically digging through clutter, snow, etc.
がれきをかき分けて進んだ。
We dug through the rubble to move forward.
To proceed with difficulty. Can be used figuratively for digging through a difficult task.
大量の書類を苦労して進めた。
I dug through a mountain of paperwork.
Do not translate 'dig through' literally as 掘る (horu) unless you are actually digging in the ground. For searching through items, use 漁る (asaru) or かき回して探す (kakimawashite sagasu).