Translation guide
How to express the action of entering something quickly, forcefully, or deeply in Japanese. Covers physical movement, immersion in activities, and sudden involvement.
Describing the action of jumping or diving into water, a pool, river, etc.
The most common verb for jumping or diving into water. Implies a sudden, forceful entry.
彼はプールに飛び込んだ。
He plunged into the pool.
川に飛び込むのは危険です。
It's dangerous to plunge into the river.
Loanword from English 'dive'. Often used in sports or casual contexts.
海にダイブした。
I plunged into the sea.
Describing rushing into a room, building, or dangerous situation.
Also used for rushing into a place or situation, not just water.
彼女は部屋に飛び込んできた。
She came plunging into the room.
危険に飛び込む勇気がある。
He has the courage to plunge into danger.
More formal, often used for military or police 'storming into' a place, or for vehicles crashing into something.
警察が建物に突入した。
The police plunged into the building.
Describing starting to do something with great energy or focus.
Means to be absorbed or immersed in something. Often used for hobbies, work, or study.
彼は研究に没頭している。
He is plunging into his research.
新しい趣味に没頭したい。
I want to plunge into a new hobby.
To devote oneself to something, to throw oneself into an activity. Similar to 没頭する but can imply more active effort.
To be deeply engrossed, often to the point of obsession. Slightly negative nuance possible.
Describing entering a state like darkness, chaos, war, etc.
Pattern meaning 'to fall into (a bad state)'. Used for plunging into chaos, recession, despair, etc.
国は混乱に陥った。
The country was plunged into chaos.
世界は恐慌に陥った。
The world was plunged into a depression.
Used for entering a new period or phase, often suddenly. Common with 'new era', 'war', etc.
戦争に突入した。
They plunged into war.
飛び込む is for physical plunging (water, rooms). 没頭する and 打ち込む are for mental immersion. 打ち込む implies active effort, while 没頭する is more about being absorbed. のめり込む can have a negative nuance of being too obsessed.
Do not use 'plunging into' literally with 突っ込む for all cases. 突っ込む can mean 'to thrust into' but often sounds violent or sexual. Stick to the options above.
仕事に打ち込んでいる。
He's plunging into his work.
ゲームにのめり込んでしまった。
I got completely plunged into the game.