潜もぐる

also: むぐる

も

ぐ

る

JLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

dive; go underwater

Physical act of submerging oneself in water, such as swimming underwater or diving into a pool.

彼かれはプールに潜もぐって、底そこに落おちているコインを拾ひろった。
He dove into the pool and picked up a coin lying on the bottom.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

get under; burrow into; snuggle under

Moving oneself into a confined or covered space: under a blanket, into a hole, under a desk, etc. Often implies hiding or seeking shelter.

寒さむいので布ふ団とんに潜もぐって寝ねた。
It was cold, so I snuggled under the futon and slept.
ウサギが地じ面めんに穴あなを掘ほって潜もぐった。
The rabbit dug a hole in the ground and burrowed into it.

3

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

go underground; hide oneself

Deliberately concealing one's activities or whereabouts, especially from authorities. Often used in political or criminal contexts.

Written forms

潜るUsage70%
- もぐる
  Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
- むぐる
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading; included for recognition of older texts.
もぐるUsage30%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, especially when the physical diving nuance is not emphasized.
むぐる
out-dated reading

Kanji

潜submerge, conceal, hide

Similar words

潜ひそむ
潜む means to lurk or lie hidden without necessarily moving into a space, while 潜る focuses on the action of entering a hidden or covered place.
隠かくれる
隠れる is a general verb for hiding oneself, whereas 潜る often implies going under something or into a confined space.

Etymology

The kanji 潜 combines the water radical 氵 with 替 (replace), suggesting the idea of going under water. The reading もぐる is native Japanese; the exact derivation is uncertain.