溺れる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 溺れる is read as おぼれる and means drowning or giving oneself over excessively to something.
• Basic usage: It can describe a child nearly drowning in a pond or a person indulging heavily in drink.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Nearly drowning in water
  • 溺れかけた means that the child came close to drowning. Example: 子どもが池で溺れかけたので、大人がすぐに助けました。
• Giving oneself over to drink
  • 溺れ describes becoming so absorbed in drinking that other parts of life are lost. Example: 彼は酒に溺れ、仕事も友人も失いました。