Translation guide
The act of breaking up and moving earth, or searching for something by moving material. Japanese uses different verbs depending on the tool, purpose, and what is being dug.
To break up and remove earth to create a hole, trench, or foundation.
General verb for digging a hole, trench, or pit. Can be used with a shovel, spade, or hands.
庭に穴を掘った。
I dug a hole in the garden.
The dog is digging the ground.
To dig up or turn over soil, often to plant something or to search for something buried.
I dug up the field and planted potatoes.
To use a shovel-like tool to move earth, sand, or snow.
To remove plants, vegetables, or roots from the ground.
To dig out or unearth something, often used for harvesting root vegetables or finding buried objects.
I dug up sweet potatoes in the field.
Also used for harvesting root vegetables, though '掘り出す' emphasizes the action of taking them out.
To investigate or search for information persistently, like 'digging into' a topic.
To excavate at an archaeological site or to mine for resources.
掘る (horu) is the general verb for digging a hole. 発掘する (hakkutsu suru) is used for archaeological excavation or unearthing something valuable. 採掘する (saikutsu suru) is specifically for mining resources.
In English slang, 'digging' can mean liking or understanding something. This does not translate to 掘る. Use 好き (suki) or 理解する (rikai suru) instead.
He's digging a hole in the backyard.
The archaeologists are digging at the site.
It's time to dig potatoes.
The reporter is digging into the scandal.