drown

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 溺 has 13 strokes and appears in words for drowning or excessive indulgence.
• Basic usage: 溺れる is read おぼれる, and 溺死 is read できし.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Being in danger and dying
  • 溺れかけた means nearly drowning; the following text says that an adult rescued the child.
  • 溺死したと伝えられる means being reported to have drowned. 溺死 includes the outcome of death.
• Giving oneself over to drinking
  • 酒に溺れ describes excessive indulgence in alcohol, with に marking what one is absorbed in.