How to say "grind" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 研ぎ澄ますとぎすますgodan verb, transitive verbCovers honing or whetting an edge to keenness, and figuratively heightening or refining something such as the senses or one's judgment. It emphasizes making something sharp and keen, not grinding as material removal.
- 磨くみがくgodan verb, transitive verbMeans to polish, burnish, or scour a surface, so it suits grinding a lens or similar work to a smooth finish. It also appears in figurative polishing of skills; for coarse grinding it is seldom the word you want.
- 研ぐとぐgodan verb, transitive verbThe usual word for grinding or whetting a blade to sharpen it, as with kitchen knives or scissors. If 'grind' means putting a sharp edge on something, this is the word you want.
- 砕くくだくgodan verb, transitive verbMeans to break, smash, or crush something into pieces, and fits 'grind' only when the sense is grinding something into powder. For sharpening or polishing, this is not the word you want.
For grinding to a sharp edge use 「研ぐ」 or 「研ぎ澄ます」, for grinding a smooth surface use 「磨く」, and for crushing something into pieces or powder use 「砕く」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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