Translation guide
To dig or remove earth, often for archaeological or construction purposes. In Japanese, the most common and versatile verb is 掘る (horu). For formal or technical contexts, 発掘する (hakkutsu suru) is used, especially for archaeological excavation. Other terms apply to specific contexts like digging up soil or dredging.
To dig a hole or remove earth using a tool or machine.
The most common and versatile verb for 'dig'. Used for digging holes, trenches, tunnels, etc. Can be used for both manual and mechanical digging.
庭に穴を掘った。
I dug a hole in the garden.
彼らは道路を掘っている。
They are excavating the road.
A more formal or technical term for excavation, often used in construction, mining, or civil engineering contexts. Implies systematic digging or drilling.
トンネルを掘削する工事が始まった。
The construction work to excavate the tunnel has begun.
To carefully dig up and uncover artifacts, ruins, or fossils.
The standard term for archaeological excavation. Implies careful, systematic digging to uncover historical objects or remains.
遺跡を発掘する。
To excavate ruins.
古代の化石が発掘された。
Ancient fossils were excavated.
Literally 'dig out'. Often used when unearthing something specific, like treasure or artifacts. Can also be used figuratively for discovering hidden talent.
To remove large amounts of soil or rock, typically with heavy machinery.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'to dig soil'. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
ショベルカーで土を掘る。
To excavate soil with a backhoe.
To dig up and turn over soil, often to prepare ground or search for something. Implies a more disruptive or thorough digging.
畑を掘り返す。
To dig up the field.
To remove sediment or debris from the bottom of a body of water.
The technical term for dredging, used in civil engineering and port maintenance.
港の底を浚渫する。
To dredge the harbor bottom.
A more general verb meaning 'to dredge' or 'to clean out' a ditch, river, or pond. Can also mean 'to sweep away'.
どぶをさらう。
To clean out a ditch.
To discover or bring to light something previously unknown or hidden.
Also used figuratively for discovering hidden talent, forgotten facts, or obscure information.
彼は埋もれた才能を発掘するのが上手だ。
He is good at excavating hidden talent.
Literally 'dig up', used figuratively to mean unearthing memories, facts, or issues from the past.
過去の事件を掘り起こす。
To dig up past incidents.
掘る (horu) is the general verb for digging, used in everyday contexts like digging a hole. 発掘する (hakkutsu suru) specifically refers to archaeological excavation or unearthing something valuable/historical. Use 発掘する for ruins, fossils, or figurative discovery of talent.
English speakers might be tempted to use 発掘する for any kind of digging because it sounds more formal or precise. However, 発掘する is almost exclusively for archaeology or metaphorical discovery. For construction, gardening, or general digging, use 掘る or 掘削する.
穴を発掘する
(Incorrect for digging a hole)
They excavated buried treasure.