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くぐる Japanese meaning | Kotomora

くぐる

く

ぐ

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

go under; pass under; go through

usually written using kana alone

Describes moving through a narrow or low space, such as a gate, tunnel, or under an object. The focus is on passing beneath or through an opening.

鳥とり居いをくぐって神じん社じゃに入はいる。
I pass under the torii gate and enter the shrine.

狭せまい路ろ地じをくぐって裏うら通どおりに出でた。

I went through a narrow alley and came out onto the back street.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

dive under water

usually written using kana alone

Specifically for going under the surface of water. Cross-referenced with 潜る (もぐる), which is the more common word for diving or submerging. This sense is rarer and often replaced by もぐる in modern Japanese.

See also: 潜る (もぐる)

彼かれは水すい中ちゅうをくぐって向むこう岸ぎしまで泳およいだ。
He swam underwater to the opposite shore.

3

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

evade; slip past; get around

usually written using kana alone

Used for avoiding difficulties, rules, or obstacles in a clever or sneaky way. Common in phrases like 法の網をくぐる (evade the law) or 難をくぐる (escape danger).

彼かれはうまく法ほう律りつの網あみをくぐって税ぜい金きんを逃のがれた。
He skillfully slipped through the legal net and evaded taxes.
厳きびしいチェックをくぐって入にゅう国こくした。
They got past the strict checks and entered the country.

4

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

survive; get through; surmount

usually written using kana alone

Used for enduring or overcoming hardships, crises, or difficult periods. Often appears in expressions like 苦難をくぐる or 戦火をくぐる.

幾いく多たの困こん難なんをくぐって、ようやく成せい功こうした。
Having survived many hardships, he finally succeeded.
戦せん火かをくぐった人ひと々びとの証しょう言げんは貴き重ちょうだ。
The testimonies of people who lived through the war are valuable.

Written forms

くぐるUsage100%
Kana spelling is standard and strongly preferred for all senses.
潜くぐるUsage<1%
Kanji spelling, but It is usually written in kana. Learners should prefer くぐる.

Kanji

潜submerge, conceal, hide

Similar words

潜もぐる
もぐる is the standard word for diving or submerging, and is more common than くぐる for underwater movement. くぐる emphasizes passing under or through something, while もぐる focuses on going beneath a surface.
通とおり抜ぬける
通り抜ける means to pass through a space from one side to the other, often a passage or crowd. くぐる adds the nuance of going under or through a narrow/low opening, or figuratively evading something.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 潜 is associated with submerging or hiding, but the verb くぐる is native Japanese and its historical origin is unclear.