How to say "scratch" in Japanese

• かくJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for the action itself — scratching an itch or scratching your head. It is usually written using kana alone.
  蚊かに刺さされたところをかいちゃだめだよ。はれちゃうから。↗

  Don't scratch your mosquito bite. It'll get inflamed.
• 擦り傷すりきずCommon
  nounA scratch as a mark on the skin: a scrape, graze or abrasion, the kind you get from falling over or sliding on a rough surface.
  彼かれの周まわりのものは全すべて粉々こなごなに吹き飛ふきとばされたが、彼かれはすり傷きず１つ負おわずに逃にげた。↗

  Everything around him was blown to pieces, yet he escaped without a scratch.
• 傷きずJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe broad word for a wound or injury, including cuts and gashes; a scratch is a minor instance of one, so it fits when you mean the injury rather than the act of scratching.
  海水かいすいが傷きずにしみて痛いたいよ。↗

  The seawater stings my cut.
• 踏切ふみきりJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounOnly for the sports sense of 'scratch' meaning the starting line in a race; for scratching an itch or a scratch on the skin this is not the word you want.

Use 「かく」 for the action of scratching, 「擦り傷」 for a scrape or graze on the skin, 傷 for wounds and injuries more generally, and 踏切 only for the sports sense of 'scratch', the starting line.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• かくto scratch
• 擦り傷すりきずscratch
• 傷きずwound
• かするto graze (e.g. bullet)
• 引っかくひっかくto scratch
• 刻きざscratch
• スクラッチscratch
• かすり傷かすりきずscratch
• かき傷かききずscratch
• 瑕瑾かきんscratch
• 引っかき傷ひっかききずscratch
• 擦れ疵すれきずscratch
• 爪痕つめあとfingernail mark
• 爪痕そうこんfingernail mark
• 擦りむくすりむくto skin (one's knee)
• 擦過傷さっかしょうabrasion
• 条痕じょうこんlinear mark
• こぼれnick
• 擦れすれchafing
• 傷つけるきずつけるto damage
• 踏切ふみきりstarting line
• 白紙はくしscratch