1.
burrow; den; nest hole; an animal's underground dwelling
A hole or tunnel dug by an animal for shelter, nesting, or hibernation. Used for the homes of rabbits, foxes, badgers, moles, crabs, and other burrowing creatures.
うさぎが巣穴に入った。
The rabbit went into its burrow.
狐は巣穴で子育てをする。
Foxes raise their young in their den.
砂浜にはカニの巣穴がたくさんあった。
There were many crab burrows on the sandy beach.
Combines 巣 (nest) and 穴 (hole). A straightforward compound describing an animal's hole-type dwelling.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 巣穴に潜る: to burrow into a den
- 巣穴を掘る: to dig a burrow
- 巣穴から出る: to come out of a burrow
- 巣穴に逃げ込む: to flee into a burrow
USAGE:
Used in nature documentaries, children's stories, and everyday descriptions of animal behavior. Can refer to any animal's underground or hole-type dwelling — rabbit warrens, fox dens, crab holes, etc. Occasionally used figuratively for a person's hiding place or private retreat.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 巣: nest — broader term covering all types of animal homes (bird nests, beehives, etc.), not just underground holes
- 穴: hole — a general hole in the ground, not necessarily an animal's dwelling
- 洞穴: cave — a natural cavity in rock, larger than a 巣穴