Translation guide
The English verb 'drown' covers dying from water inhalation, causing someone to die this way, and metaphorically being overwhelmed by sound or tasks. Japanese uses different verbs for intransitive death, transitive killing, and near-drowning, plus distinct expressions for metaphorical drowning.
To die from being submerged in water and unable to breathe.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to drown' (die by drowning). This is the most common and direct equivalent.
He drowned in the ocean.
I rescued a drowning person.
Formal compound meaning 'to die by drowning', often used in news reports or official contexts.
Three people drowned in the accident.
To kill someone by submerging them in water.
To be unable to hear something because of a louder noise.
To have too much work or be overcome by feelings.
Literally 'killed by busyness'. Commonly used for being swamped with work.
I'm drowning in work this week.
Metaphorical use of 溺れる, often with に indicating what overwhelms you.
Literally 'about to be crushed'. Expresses feeling overwhelmed by pressure or work.
I feel like I'm drowning in the amount of work.
To almost drown but survive.
Verb 溺れる + かける (almost do something). Means 'to almost drown'.
When I was a child, I almost drowned in the ocean.
Literally 'was about to drown dangerously'. Emphasizes the close call.
I almost drowned.
English 'drown' can be both intransitive (He drowned) and transitive (He drowned the cat). In Japanese, you must use 溺れる for intransitive and 溺れさせる for transitive. Using 溺れる transitively is incorrect.
溺れる is the everyday word for drowning. 水死する is formal and often used in statistics or news headlines. In conversation, stick to 溺れる.
He drowned in the river.
The music drowned out her voice.
I'm drowning in paperwork.
The culprit drowned the victim in the bathtub.
The music was so loud that the voice on the phone was drowned out.
彼は借金に溺れている。
He is drowning in debt.
To drown in sorrow.