Translation guide
Expressing the action of pouring a liquid or substance into a container or space. Japanese uses different verbs depending on the substance and context.
To transfer a liquid from one vessel into another, such as pouring tea, water, or coffee.
The most common verb for pouring liquids. Can be used for pouring into cups, pots, etc. Transitive verb.
Literally 'put in', this is a very common and versatile verb used for pouring liquids in everyday speech. Less formal than 注ぐ.
Please pour milk into the glass.
Often used for pouring drinks for others, especially from a bottle or pot into individual cups. Implies serving.
Pour tea for the guest.
To pour small solids like sugar, salt, or sand into a container.
To pour something into a larger area, such as a river into the sea, or to invest effort/money into something.
Emphasizes pouring into something with force or in large amounts. Often used metaphorically for investing time, money, or energy.
The river pours water into the sea.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to flow into'. Used for liquids naturally entering a space.
注ぐ (sosogu) specifically means 'pour' and is used for liquids. 入れる (ireru) means 'put in' and is more general, used for both liquids and solids. In casual conversation, 入れる is often preferred for pouring drinks.
While 注ぎ込む can be used metaphorically, not all English 'pour into' phrases translate directly. For example, 'pour your heart into something' is often expressed as 心を込める (こころをこめる) rather than using 注ぐ.
Pour sand into the mold.
He poured all his fortune into that project.
Rainwater poured into the basement.