1.
swamp; marsh; marshland; boggy ground
An area of low-lying, waterlogged land where the ground is soft and wet. May have standing water and characteristic wetland vegetation.
A compound of 沼 (swamp, pond) + 地 (land, ground). Refers to terrain that is perpetually wet and soft, often with standing water. Relevant in Japan because many modern urban areas were built on reclaimed swampland, which affects building foundations and earthquake risk.
Common collocations
- 沼地に足を取られる: to get one's feet stuck in a swamp
- 沼地を埋め立てる: to reclaim swampland (by filling)
- 沼地が広がる: swampland stretches out
Similar words
- 湿地: wetland; marshland — a broader, more scientific term that includes any kind of wet terrain. 沼地 specifically implies soft, muddy ground.
- 沼: swamp; pond — the base word, which can refer to a body of standing water rather than terrain. 沼地 emphasizes the land area.
- 泥沼: mud swamp; quagmire — often used figuratively to mean a hopeless situation one cannot escape from.