Translation guide
The English word 'plow' can be a noun (farming tool, snowplow) or a verb (to till soil, to push through forcefully, to invest back). This guide covers the most common and useful Japanese equivalents for learners.
The agricultural implement used to turn over soil, typically pulled by a tractor or animal.
General term for a plow, especially a traditional or simple one. Often used for hand-pushed or animal-drawn plows.
The farmer plowed the field with a plow.
Loanword from English, often used for modern tractor-mounted plows or in technical contexts.
トラクターにプラウを取り付ける。
Attach the plow to the tractor.
A specific type of traditional Japanese plow, often with a curved blade. Rare and literary.
昔は犂を使って田を耕した。
In the old days, they used a traditional plow to till the rice fields.
A vehicle or device for clearing snow from roads or railways.
Standard term for a snowplow vehicle. Literally 'snow removal vehicle'.
除雪車が道路の雪を片付けている。
A snowplow is clearing the snow off the road.
Loanword, often used for the attachment on a truck or train. Common in technical or product contexts.
The action of turning over soil using a plow or similar tool.
General verb for tilling or cultivating soil. Works for plowing fields.
春に畑を耕す。
Plow the field in spring.
Specifically 'to plow with a plow'. Emphasizes the tool used.
彼は鋤で畑を耕した。
He plowed the field with a plow.
Verb meaning 'to plow' or 'to spade', directly related to 鋤. Less common than 耕す.
田を鋤く。
Plow the rice field.
To move forward with force, overcoming resistance (e.g., through snow, water, or a crowd).
To push forward, forge ahead. Captures the forceful, determined movement of 'plowing through'.
彼は人混みを突き進んだ。
He plowed through the crowd.
To push one's way through, literally 'push aside and advance'. Good for physical barriers like bushes or crowds.
彼女は藪を押し分けて進んだ。
She plowed through the bushes.
To advance by brute force. Emphasizes the effort and lack of finesse.
彼は力ずくでドアをこじ開けて進んだ。
He plowed through the door by force.
To reinvest money earned into a business or project (e.g., 'plow profits back into the company').
Standard term for 'reinvest'. Direct and clear.
利益を会社に再投資する。
Plow the profits back into the company.
To pour (money) into something. Conveys the idea of investing heavily, similar to 'plow into'.
彼は全財産を事業につぎ込んだ。
He plowed all his money into the business.
British slang meaning to fail an exam or test.
Standard verb for failing an exam. Literally 'to fall'.
彼は試験に落ちた。
He plowed the exam.
More formal way to say 'fail' (literally 'become disqualified').
彼は試験に不合格になった。
He plowed the exam.
Do not use 耕す (tagayasu) for the metaphorical sense of 'plowing through' work or obstacles. Use 突き進む or similar phrases instead.
仕事を突き進む。
Plow through work.
耕す (tagayasu) is the general verb for cultivating land, while 鋤く (suku) specifically means to use a plow (鋤). In most contexts, 耕す is sufficient and more common.
列車の先頭にスノープラウが付いている。
There's a snowplow attached to the front of the train.