Translation guide
The English verb 'gouge' has two main meanings: to cut or scoop out a hole or groove, and to overcharge or extort money. This guide covers both, with natural Japanese expressions for each.
To remove material by digging, scooping, or cutting, often creating a hole or groove.
The most direct equivalent for gouging out material, such as wood, earth, or flesh. Implies a forceful scooping or hollowing action.
He gouged the wood with a knife.
The flesh of his arm was gouged out in the accident.
To hollow out or scoop out, often used for making a hole in something like a pumpkin or wood. Emphasizes creating a cavity.
I gouged out a pumpkin to make a lantern.
To shave, scrape, or whittle away. Can be used for gouging when the action is more about scraping off material.
He gouged the wood with a chisel.
To pry or gouge out, often with a twisting motion. More specific and less common than えぐる.
He gouged the keyhole with a screwdriver.
To charge an excessively high price, or to obtain money by force or threat.
Literally 'to charge an outrageous price'. This is the most natural way to express price gouging.
That store gouges tourists.
Colloquial verb meaning to rip off or overcharge. Common in everyday speech.
To exploit or extort, often used in economic contexts. More formal than ぼったくる.
To extort or blackmail. Implies obtaining money through threats or intimidation.
えぐる implies a forceful scooping or digging action, often removing material from a surface. くり抜く focuses on creating a hollow space or hole, like carving out the inside of something.
Gouge out ice cream with a spoon.
Gouge out wood to make a bowl.
Do not use えぐる for price gouging. It only refers to physical gouging. For overcharging, use 法外な値段を請求する or ぼったくる.
あのタクシー運転手にぼったくられた。
I got gouged by that taxi driver.
Companies are gouging consumers.
He gouged her by threatening to reveal her secret.