Translation guide
The phrasal verb "eat into" has several meanings, from physically wearing away a surface to reducing time, money, or resources. This guide covers the most common uses for English-speaking learners.
To gradually consume or take away from a limited resource, such as time, money, or energy.
Literally 'eat and exhaust', used for consuming savings, time, or resources, often with a negative nuance.
医療費が貯金を食いつぶした。
Medical expenses ate into my savings.
Means 'to pressure' or 'squeeze', often used for budgets, schedules, or resources being strained.
予算を圧迫している。
It's eating into the budget.
Literally 'bite into', used figuratively for encroaching on time, profits, or territory.
残業が私の自由時間に食い込んでいる。
Overtime is eating into my free time.
Means 'to shave off' or 'cut down', used for reducing time or money, but less common for gradual consumption.
交通費が旅行の予算を削った。
Transportation costs ate into the travel budget.
To gradually damage or destroy a material through chemical or physical action.
Specifically for chemical corrosion, like acid eating into metal.
酸が金属を腐食した。
The acid ate into the metal.
For erosion by water, wind, etc., often used for natural landscapes.
波が海岸を浸食している。
The waves are eating into the coastline.
Means 'to eat into' or 'undermine', often used for decay, disease, or moral corruption.
虫歯が歯をむしばんでいる。
The cavity is eating into the tooth.
To gradually take over or invade an area, market, or personal space.
Same as above, but used for physical or metaphorical encroachment.
新しい店がうちの商圏に食い込んできた。
The new store is eating into our market area.
Similar to 浸食 but can be used figuratively for markets or territory.
大手企業が中小企業のシェアを侵食している。
Large corporations are eating into the market share of small businesses.
Do not translate 'eat into' literally as 食べる (taberu) + 中に (naka ni). It will not be understood. Use the phrases above depending on context.
食い込む (kuikomu) is for encroaching or cutting into something (time, space, profits), while 食いつぶす (kuitsubusu) is for completely using up or exhausting a resource (savings, inheritance).