The Meaning of oboreru [溺れる] In Japanese

溺れる
おぼれる
Romaji: oboreru N4

What does 溺れる mean?

Translation and Meaning

drown, be overwhelmed, be submerged

Definition

What does 溺れる mean? It means to drown, literally in water, and it can also describe being overwhelmed or consumed by something figuratively.

Type

Verb (ichidan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • literal drowning in water
  • figurative drowning in emotion or passion
  • metaphorically overwhelmed or consumed by a habit or addiction

Etymology

The kanji 溺 carries the water radical and denotes drowning; combined with the verb ending る it forms a native Japanese verb meaning to drown or be overwhelmed.

Composition

  • 溺: water-related meaning of drowning; combines water radical with a phonetic element to convey the idea of being overwhelmed by liquid

Usage

Used in both literal and figurative contexts; in everyday conversation 溺れる describes drowning in water, while in metaphorical uses it pairs with nouns like 恋, 酒, or 欲望 to express being overwhelmed; formal or literary register is common in descriptive prose or medical contexts; casual speech may also appear in vivid expressions.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine three water drops on the left pushing a person to the right; the sound oboreru cues the sense of being overwhelmed, as if you’re being carried over by water or emotion.

Variations

  • 水に溺れる (みずにおぼれる) — drowning in water
  • 恋に溺れる (こいにおぼれる) — drowning in love
  • 酒に溺れる (さけにおぼれる) — drowning in alcohol

Example Phrases

  • 私は お風呂で 「溺れる」 夢を 見た
    Watashi wa ofuro de 「oboreru」 yume o mita
    I had a dream that I was drowning in the bath.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • お風呂で (ofuro de) – in the bath
    • 「溺れる」 (「oboreru」) – to drown
    • 夢を (yume o) – dream (object)
    • 見た (mita) – saw
    Core grammar: Xを見た means ‘to have had a dream about X’; 溺れる夢 = ‘a dream of drowning’; use 「溺れる」 to emphasize the verb.
溺れる