Translation guide
The English word "pit" covers many unrelated meanings. This guide groups them by practical use: a hole in the ground, a stone fruit seed, a sunken area, a theater area, a racing stop, and a bad situation. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
A deep hole in the earth, natural or dug
General word for hole. Works for pits, but often needs context to specify depth.
地面に大きな穴が開いている。
There's a big pit in the ground.
A pitfall or trap hole, often covered. Used literally and figuratively.
落とし穴に落ちた。
I fell into a pit.
A mining pit or excavation shaft. Technical term.
その採掘坑はとても深い。
That mining pit is very deep.
The hard seed inside a peach, plum, cherry, etc.
General word for seed or pit of fruit. Works for most stone fruits.
桃の種を取ってください。
Please remove the peach pit.
Specifically the hard stone or pit of a fruit. More precise than 種.
梅干しの核を取り除く。
Remove the pits from the pickled plums.
A low or depressed area, like an orchestra pit or a pit in the stomach
Loanword used for orchestra pit, inspection pit, etc. Common in compound terms.
オーケストラピットで演奏する。
They perform in the orchestra pit.
The pit of the stomach; the solar plexus area. Often used in expressions of anxiety.
The area where race cars stop for service
Same loanword as above, used for pit stop in motorsports.
彼はピットに入った。
He went into the pits.
A very unpleasant or hopeless situation (e.g., "this place is a pit")
Rock bottom; the lowest point. Used for emotional or situational pits.
人生のどん底にいる気分だ。
I feel like I'm in the pits of life.
Hell; used figuratively for an awful place or situation.
不安でみぞおちが痛む。
I have a pit in my stomach from anxiety.
この職場は地獄だ。
This workplace is a pit.