掘る
掘る · godan verb (-ru)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 掘る | 掘らない |
| Polite | 掘ります | 掘りません |
| Past polite | 掘りました | 掘りませんでした |
| Past | 掘った | 掘らなかった |
| Te-form | 掘って | 掘らないで |
| Desire | 掘りたい | 掘りたくない |
| Potential | 掘れる | 掘れない |
| Passive | 掘られる | 掘られない |
| Causative | 掘らせる | 掘らせない |
| Causative passive | 掘らせられるalso 掘らされる | 掘らせられないalso 掘らされない |
| Volitional | 掘ろう | |
| Polite volitional | 掘りましょう | |
| Imperative | 掘れ | 掘るな |
| Conditional | 掘れば | 掘らなければ |
| Tara conditional | 掘ったら | 掘らなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
General term for making a hole, trench, or cavity in the ground or a surface.
I dug a hole in the garden and planted a tree.
They dig under the road to build a tunnel.
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
Figurative use: to investigate or research something deeply, often with 調べる or 探る.
The reporter kept digging into the truth of the case.
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
Used for extracting resources from the ground: vegetables, treasure, coal, ore, etc.
I dig up potatoes in the field.
They used to mine coal in this area.
godan verb (-ru), transitive verb
top; take the active role in anal sex
Vulgar slang; refers to the insertive partner in anal intercourse between men.
He always said he was the top.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に穴を掘るto dig a hole in a place
I dug a hole in the yard and planted a tree.
- 芋を掘るto dig up potatoes
In autumn, children love digging up potatoes.
- 井戸を掘るto dig a well
The villagers dug a well to find water.
- トンネルを掘るto dig a tunnel
The workers are digging a tunnel through the mountain.
Expressions
- 根掘り葉掘りinquisitively; pryingly; thoroughly
- 蓮根掘るdig up lotus roots
- 墓穴を掘るdig one's own grave; bring ruin upon oneself
- 渇に臨みて井を掘るfail to prepare in time; not dig a well until one is thirsty
- 蟹は甲羅に似せて穴を掘るto each their own; different strokes for different folks; cut your coat to suit your cloth