1.
to search for; to rummage through
To search through things looking for something specific, often in a messy or thorough way.
ネットで情報を漁る。
To search the internet for information.
引き出しの中を漁った。
I rummaged through the drawer.
古本屋で珍しい本を漁った。
I rummaged through the used bookstore looking for rare books.
冷蔵庫の中を漁って食べるものを探した。
I rummaged through the fridge looking for something to eat.
彼は毎晩ネットで安い航空券を漁っているが、なかなか見つからないらしい。
He searches the internet for cheap plane tickets every night, but apparently can't find any.
2.
to forage; to scavenge
When animals or people search for food.
鳥が餌を漁る。
A bird forages for food.
熊がゴミ箱を漁っていた。
A bear was rummaging through the garbage.
野良猫がゴミ袋を漁っている。
A stray cat is scavenging through the garbage bags.
秋になると栗鼠は木の実を漁って冬に備える。
In autumn, squirrels forage for nuts in preparation for winter.
干潮の時に浜辺で貝を漁るのが子供の頃の楽しみだった。
Foraging for shellfish on the beach at low tide was one of the joys of my childhood.
漁る is a transitive verb (他動詞). There is no intransitive pair.
ASPECT ({ている}):
漁っている indicates an ongoing action of searching or rummaging.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- [place]を漁る - to rummage through [place]
- 情報を漁る - to hunt for information
- 餌を漁る - to forage for food
- 女/男を漁る - to pursue women/men (negative nuance)
NUANCE:
This verb often implies a somewhat indiscriminate or thorough search, sometimes with a slightly negative connotation of being greedy or indiscriminate.
KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 漁 is the same as in 漁業 (fishing industry), reflecting the original meaning of fishing/foraging.