Translation guide
The English verb 'pry' has two main meanings: to inquire intrusively into someone's private affairs, and to force something open or apart using leverage. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for both senses.
Expressing the act of asking about someone's private matters in a nosy or intrusive way.
Expressing the physical action of using a lever or tool to open something that is stuck or locked.
In Japanese, the physical act of prying open (こじ開ける) and the metaphorical act of prying into affairs (首を突っ込む) use completely different expressions. Be careful not to mix them up.
彼は私の日記をこじ開けて読んだ。
He pried open my diary and read it.
彼は私のプライバシーに首を突っ込んだ。
He pried into my privacy.
Literally 'to stick one's neck into', this is a common and natural way to say 'to pry' or 'to meddle' in someone's affairs.
人の問題に首を突っ込まないで。
Don't pry into other people's problems.
A more formal verb meaning 'to pry' or 'to inquire closely', often used when someone is asking too many detailed questions.
彼は私の過去を詮索した。
He pried into my past.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to ask persistently and in detail', similar to 'to pry' or 'to grill someone'.
彼女は私の恋愛について根掘り葉掘り聞いた。
She pried into my love life, asking all sorts of questions.
Literally 'to ask something that steps into (private territory)', this is a polite way to describe prying questions.
立ち入ったことを聞いてすみません。
Sorry for prying (asking personal questions).
The most common verb for 'to pry open', implying the use of a tool like a crowbar to force something open.
泥棒はドアをこじ開けた。
The burglar pried the door open.
彼は缶をこじ開けようとした。
He tried to pry the can open.
Literally 'to open with a lever', this phrase explicitly mentions the tool (てこ) used for prying.
その箱をてこで開けた。
I pried the box open with a lever.
A shorter, more colloquial verb meaning 'to pry' or 'to wrench', often used in casual speech.
窓をこじって開けた。
I pried the window open.