Translation guide
The English word "ditch" has two main meanings: a noun meaning a trench or channel for water, and a verb meaning to get rid of or abandon something or someone. This guide covers both, with natural Japanese equivalents.
A long narrow hole dug in the ground, often for drainage or irrigation.
General word for a ditch, groove, or channel. Can refer to drainage ditches, gutters, or even small furrows.
There is a ditch on the side of the road.
溝に落ちないように気をつけて。
Be careful not to fall into the ditch.
Specifically a drainage ditch or gutter. More technical than 溝.
排水溝が詰まっている。
The drainage ditch is clogged.
A roadside ditch or gutter, often covered. Common in urban contexts.
側溝の蓋を開けて掃除した。
I opened the gutter cover and cleaned it.
A moat or canal, often around a castle. Can also mean a ditch in a broader sense, but usually implies a larger, man-made waterway.
城の周りには深い堀がある。
There is a deep moat around the castle.
To discard, throw away, or stop using something; to end a relationship or leave someone behind.
The most common word for 'throw away' or 'discard'. Works for physical objects and abstract things like habits.
古いソファを捨てた。
I ditched the old sofa.
悪い習慣を捨てるのは難しい。
It's hard to ditch bad habits.
To abandon or forsake someone, often with a nuance of leaving them in a difficult situation. Stronger than 捨てる for people.
To quit or stop doing something. Used for ditching plans, activities, or habits.
今日の会議をやめよう。
Let's ditch today's meeting.
To leave someone behind, often deliberately. Similar to 'abandon' or 'strand'.
彼は仲間を置き去りにして逃げた。
He ditched his comrades and fled.
Slang for dumping a romantic partner. Very casual.
彼女に振られた。
I got ditched by my girlfriend.
To not attend something you are supposed to, often without permission.
Casual verb meaning to skip or play hooky from school, work, or duties. Derived from 'sabotage'.
学校をサボって映画に行った。
I ditched school and went to a movie.
バイトをサボるな。
Don't ditch your part-time job.
To take an unauthorized day off; to skip without a good reason. More explicit than サボる.
彼はよくずる休みをする。
He often ditches work/school.
From English 'escape'. Used for skipping class or slipping away. Somewhat dated slang.
授業をエスケープした。
I ditched class.
The noun 溝 (みぞ) only means a physical ditch. It cannot be used for the verb meanings of 'ditch' (abandon, skip). Using it that way would be nonsensical.
捨てる is for objects or abstract things; 見捨てる is for abandoning people, often with emotional weight. Using 捨てる for a person can sound cold or literal (like throwing them away).
古い携帯を捨てた。
I ditched my old phone.
彼はパーティーで私を見捨てた。
He ditched me at the party.
授業をサボって海に行こう。
Let's ditch class and go to the beach.
彼は友達を見捨てて逃げた。
He ditched his friend and ran away.
困っている人を見捨てるわけにはいかない。
I can't just ditch someone in need.
タバコをやめることにした。
I decided to ditch smoking.