noun
General colloquial term for a hole or hollow, often implying a noticeable or somewhat rough opening.
道に大きな穴ぼこが空いている。
There's a big hole in the road.
壁に穴ぼこを開けてしまった。
I accidentally made a hole in the wall.
noun
Specifically a pothole on a road or pavement; a common context for this word.
雨の後は道路に穴ぼこができやすい。
Potholes tend to form on the road after rain.
Compound of 穴 (あな, 'hole') and ぼこ, a mimetic element suggesting a hollow or indentation. The exact origin of ぼこ is uncertain, but it is likely related to sound-symbolic words for hollow objects.