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.
I dug a hole in the garden.
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.
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.
To excavate ruins.
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.
They excavated buried treasure.
To remove large amounts of soil or rock, typically with heavy machinery.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'to dig soil'. Commonly used in everyday contexts.
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.
To dig up the field.
To remove sediment or debris from the bottom of a body of water.
To discover or bring to light something previously unknown or hidden.
Also used figuratively for discovering hidden talent, forgotten facts, or obscure information.
He is good at excavating hidden talent.
Literally 'dig up', used figuratively to mean unearthing memories, facts, or issues from the past.
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.
The dog dug up the garden. (Use 掘る, not 発掘する)
To excavate ruins. (Use 発掘する)
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.
(Incorrect for digging a hole)