溺れる

• Reading: おぼれる
• Romaji: oboreru
• Kanji breakdown: 溺 (obo/deki) — drown, indulge
• Pronunciation: /o.bo.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To drown; to nearly drown; to indulge in. Being submerged in water or becoming excessively absorbed in something.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る. Has two main uses: literal drowning (川で溺れる) and figurative addiction or overindulgence (ギャンブルに溺れる, 愛に溺れる). The figurative use carries a negative connotation of losing self-control. Related expression: 溺れる者はわらをもつかむ (a drowning person grasps at straws).

Examples

1. 子供が川で溺れそうになった。 A child almost drowned in the river.
2. お酒に溺れて仕事を失った人もいる。 Some people have lost their jobs from drowning in alcohol.
3. プールで溺れている人を助けた。 I rescued someone who was drowning in the pool.

Usage Guide

Context: safety, news, cautionary

Tone: serious

Origin & History

The kanji 溺 combines water (氵) and weak (弱), painting the image of someone weakened by water — helpless and sinking. The figurative sense extends this helplessness to being 'drowned' by desire.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal