ほじる

also: ほじくる

ほ

じ

る

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Physical action of poking, digging, or picking at something, often with fingers or a tool. Common with nose, teeth, ears, or dirt.

耳みみをほじるときは気きをつけて。

Be careful when cleaning your ears.

2

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

pry into; examine closely; dredge up

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Figurative use: digging into someone's past, secrets, or details in a nosy or persistent way. Often negative.

ほじるUsage37%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 穿る is rare.
ほじくるUsage34%
Alternate colloquial form with a slightly more emphatic or persistent nuance.
穿るUsage29%
rarely-used kanji form
- ほじる
  Rare kanji form; learners should use kana.
- ほじくる

掘ほる
掘る means to dig a hole or excavate; ほじる is more about poking, picking, or prying into something specific.
探さぐる
探る is a neutral 'probe' or 'investigate'; ほじる in the figurative sense is more colloquial and implies nosy or persistent digging.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to 掘る (ほる, 'to dig') with an emphatic or iterative element, but the exact derivation is unclear.