掻い潜る

• Reading: かいくぐる
• Romaji: kaikuguru
• Kanji breakdown: 掻 (kou/ka) — scratch, scrape (intensifier prefix); 潜 (sen/kuguru) — slip through, submerge, hide
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.kɯ.ɡɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To dodge; to evade; to slip through (surveillance, rules, or obstacles).

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb combining the intensifying prefix 掻い- (from 掻く) and 潜る (to slip under, to dive through). Conjugates as 掻い潜ら-ない, 掻い潜り-ます. Often used figuratively to describe evading laws, enemy surveillance, or social constraints by cleverness or nimbleness.

Examples

1. 密輸業者たちは厳しい税関検査を掻い潜って荷物を持ち込んだ。 The smugglers slipped through the strict customs inspections and brought in their cargo.
2. 彼は規制の網の目を巧みに掻い潜り、利益を上げ続けた。 He skillfully evaded the regulatory net and continued turning a profit.
3. 諜報員は敵の監視を掻い潜って安全に国境を越えた。 The intelligence agent dodged enemy surveillance and safely crossed the border.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, espionage, journalism, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of the intensifying prefix 掻い- (from 掻く, to scratch or scrape forcefully) and 潜る (kuguru, to slip through, to dive under a barrier). The combined image is of forcefully pushing through a tight gap.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated