彫(ほ)る

ほる
godan verb
to carve, to engrave
1. to carve, to sculpt
To cut a shape or design into a hard material like wood or stone.
木(き)で仏像(ぶつぞう)を彫(ほ)る。
I carve a Buddha statue from wood.
趣味(しゅみ)で木彫(きぼ)りの人形(にんぎょう)を彫(ほ)っている。
I carve wooden figurines as a hobby.
職人(しょくにん)が細(こま)かい模様(もよう)を丁寧(ていねい)に彫(ほ)っていた。
The craftsman was carefully carving a detailed pattern.
2. to engrave
To cut letters or designs into a surface.
名前(なまえ)を石(いし)に彫(ほ)る。
I engrave a name in stone.
記念(きねん)にペンダントに日付(ひづけ)を彫(ほ)ってもらった。
I had the date engraved on a pendant as a memento.
墓石(ぼせき)に故人(こじん)の名前(なまえ)と生年月日(せいねんがっぴ)を彫(ほ)る。
The deceased's name and date of birth are engraved on the gravestone.
3. to tattoo
To create permanent designs on skin.
腕(うで)に刺青(いれずみ)を彫(ほ)る。
I get a tattoo on my arm.
背中(せなか)に龍(りゅう)の刺青(いれずみ)を彫(ほ)った。
I had a dragon tattoo done on my back.
日本(にほん)では刺青(いれずみ)を彫(ほ)ると温泉(おんせん)に入(はい)れないことがある。
In Japan, having a tattoo can prevent you from entering hot springs.

彫(ほ)る means to carve or engrave into a hard surface.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive)
  • Takes を particle: 像(ぞう)を彫(ほ)る

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 彫刻(ちょうこく): sculpture, carving
  • 木彫(きぼ)り: woodcarving
  • 彫(ほ)り物(もの): carving, engraving
  • 彫(ほ)りが深(ふか)い: having well-defined features (of a face)

HOMOPHONE:

  • 掘(ほ)る (to dig) has the same reading but different meaning and kanji.
  • 彫(ほ)る: to carve INTO a surface
  • 掘(ほ)る: to dig OUT from the ground

Related Words

Related: 掘(ほ)る (to dig (homophone))
general
Added 2026.1.13 9:40 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:49
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