The children dug a deep hole in the sandbox.
鼻の穴に指を入れないで。
Don't put your finger in your nostril.
noun
burrow; den; lair
Used for an animal's hole or dwelling, such as a burrow in the ground.
ウサギが穴から顔を出した。
A rabbit poked its head out of its burrow.
noun
deficit; shortage; financial hole; loss
Figurative use for a deficit or loss, especially money that must somehow be made up; common in phrases like 穴を埋める and 穴があく.
今月の赤字で家計に穴があいた。
This month's deficit left a hole in the household budget.
会社は損失の穴を埋める必要がある。
The company needs to cover the loss.
noun
gap left by someone; vacancy; opening
Refers to the absence left when a person, role, or team member is missing; often used with 埋める.
退職した先輩の穴を埋めるのは大変だ。
It is hard to fill the gap left by the senior colleague who retired.
noun
Figurative use for a weakness in a plan, argument, theory, system, or law.
その計画には大きな穴がある。
There is a major flaw in that plan.
彼は法律の穴を利用した。
He took advantage of a loophole in the law.
noun
hidden gem; little-known good spot; well-kept secret
Usually encountered in the compound 穴場, meaning a good place or opportunity that not many people know about.
See also: 穴場
この海岸は人が少なくて、夏でも穴場だ。
This beach is a hidden gem with few people even in summer.
noun
long shot; dark horse; upset with a large payoff
Betting and competition use: an unlikely winner or outcome that would pay well; common in expressions such as 穴を狙う and 大穴.
競馬では、彼はいつも穴を狙う。
In horse racing, he always goes for long shots.
noun
partitioned theatre box; traditional floor-seating box
Theatre jargon for a partitioned box-type seating area in a traditional Japanese theatre; related to 桝.
See also: 枡
歌舞伎などの劇場用語で、「穴」は仕切られた桝席を指す。
In theatre jargon for kabuki and similar settings, 穴 refers to a partitioned box seat.
noun
Archaic use for a hiding place or hideout; modern Japanese normally uses words such as 隠れ家 or 隠れ場所.
古い文章では、「穴」が隠れ家の意味で使われることがある。
In old writing, 穴 is sometimes used to mean a hideout.