Translation guide
The English verb 'drown' covers dying from water inhalation, causing someone to die this way, and metaphorically being overwhelmed by sound or tasks. Japanese uses different verbs for intransitive death, transitive killing, and near-drowning, plus distinct expressions for metaphorical drowning.
To die from being submerged in water and unable to breathe.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to drown' (die by drowning). This is the most common and direct equivalent.
彼は海で溺れた。
He drowned in the ocean.
溺れている人を助けた。
I rescued a drowning person.
Formal compound meaning 'to die by drowning', often used in news reports or official contexts.
その事故で3人が水死した。
Three people drowned in the accident.
To kill someone by submerging them in water.
Causative form of 溺れる. This is the standard way to say 'to drown someone'.
彼は犬を川で溺れさせた。
He drowned the dog in the river.
Causative of 水死する, used in formal or legal contexts.
犯人は被害者を浴槽で水死させた。
The culprit drowned the victim in the bathtub.
To be unable to hear something because of a louder noise.
Passive verb meaning 'to be drowned out' (by a louder sound). Literally 'erased'.
彼の声は騒音にかき消された。
His voice was drowned out by the noise.
Literally 'become inaudible'. A simpler, more direct way to say a sound is drowned out.
音楽が大きすぎて、電話の声が聞こえなくなった。
The music was so loud that the voice on the phone was drowned out.
To have too much work or be overcome by feelings.
Literally 'killed by busyness'. Commonly used for being swamped with work.
今週は仕事に忙殺されている。
I'm drowning in work this week.
Metaphorical use of 溺れる, often with に indicating what overwhelms you.
Literally 'about to be crushed'. Expresses feeling overwhelmed by pressure or work.
仕事の量に押しつぶされそうだ。
I feel like I'm drowning in the amount of work.
To almost drown but survive.
Verb 溺れる + かける (almost do something). Means 'to almost drown'.
子供の頃、海で溺れかけた。
When I was a child, I almost drowned in the ocean.
Literally 'was about to drown dangerously'. Emphasizes the close call.
危うく溺れるところだった。
I almost drowned.
English 'drown' can be both intransitive (He drowned) and transitive (He drowned the cat). In Japanese, you must use 溺れる for intransitive and 溺れさせる for transitive. Using 溺れる transitively is incorrect.
溺れる is the everyday word for drowning. 水死する is formal and often used in statistics or news headlines. In conversation, stick to 溺れる.
彼は川で溺れた。
He drowned in the river.
音楽が彼女の声をかき消した。
The music drowned out her voice.
書類仕事に忙殺されている。
I'm drowning in paperwork.
彼は借金に溺れている。
He is drowning in debt.
悲しみに溺れる。
To drown in sorrow.