Translation guide
The English word 'scouring' can refer to cleaning by rubbing hard, searching thoroughly, or causing erosion. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To clean something by rubbing it vigorously, often with a brush or abrasive, to remove dirt or stains.
To search an area or source of information very carefully and completely.
To search thoroughly. A straightforward and common phrase.
To wear away or remove material by the action of water, wind, or other natural forces.
To erode; the standard term for geological or material erosion.
In English, 'scour' implies vigorous scrubbing. In Japanese, 磨く (みがく) can be used for polishing, but for light wiping, use 拭く (ふく) instead.
I scour the pot.
He scours his shoes every day.
To scrub or rub something, often with a brush or cloth. Emphasizes the physical action of rubbing.
I scour the floor to remove the dirt.
To wash off or scrub away dirt. Often used when the focus is on removing something.
I scour off the grease.
To scrub vigorously, often with a back-and-forth motion. Onomatopoeic and casual.
I scoured the pot vigorously.
The police scoured the area.
He scoured the internet for information.
To search every nook and cranny; to leave no stone unturned. Slightly more literary.
They scoured the forest.
To go around searching; implies moving from place to place.
He scoured the city for a job.
To investigate everything thoroughly, leaving nothing out. Often used for documents or records.
The accountant scoured the books.
The river is scouring the banks.
To shave, scrape, or wear down. Can be used for erosion but is more general.
The wind scours the rocks.
To wash away; emphasizes the removal of material by flowing water.
The flood scoured away the topsoil.