Kanji Homophone Battle
Pronunciation Trap: "ほる (horu)"
Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.
Kanji Option A
掘る
ほる (horu)
N3 / CEFR
VS
Kanji Option B
彫る
ほる (horu)
N2 / CEFR
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "ほる (horu)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.
- 掘る (Level: N3): Translates to "to dig" and is used when 地面や穴を掘る、または地下から何かを見つけ出す際に使う。Used when digging a hole in the ground or unearthing something from underground..
- 彫る (Level: N2): Maps to "to carve, to engrave, to sculpt" and carries the nuance of Used for creating shapes or designs on a surface.
Bilingual Context for "掘る"
犬が庭で骨を掘っている。
The dog is digging for a bone in the garden.
Bilingual Context for "彫る"
木に美しい模様を彫る。
To carve a beautiful pattern into wood.
Kanji Selection Quiz
Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?
Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "犬が庭で骨を掘っている。" (Meaning: "The dog is digging for a bone in the garden.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Correct! "掘る" is used for "to dig" in the context: "The dog is digging for a bone in the garden.".