くくる・括るkukuru[0]heiban (flat)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto tie up; to tie together; to bind; to bundle; to fasten
   書類しょるいは全部ぜんぶテープでくくられて金庫きんこにおさめられた。↗

   All the papers were taped up and kept in the safe.
2. godan verb, transitive verbto hang (oneself)also written as 縊る
3. godan verb, transitive verbto summarize; to put (it all) together; to consolidate
4. godan verb, transitive verbto estimate; to expect
5. godan verb, transitive verbto tie-dye
6. godan verb, transitive verbto detain; to check; to restrain

• Synonym結びつけるむすびつけるNeutralFastens or ties things on, and links two things together. The emphasis is on connection or association rather than gathering into a bundle.
• Synonym縛るしばるNeutralBinds or ties up, and figuratively restrains people with rules. The emphasis is on restricting freedom rather than making a bundle.
• Synonym結ぶむすぶNeutralTies knots and joins things, and also concludes deals or treaties. Broader in range than 「括る」.
• Synonym締めるしめるNeutralTightens or fastens — a belt, a necktie — and also means to total up. The emphasis is on tightening, not bundling.
• SynonymつなぐNeutralConnects or tethers things, and figuratively keeps relationships going. The emphasis is on joining things together.
• Synonym繋ぎ止めるつなぎとめるNeutralTies or holds something down so it cannot get away; figuratively keeps a relationship or a person from slipping away. The nuance is holding on, not bundling.
• Synonym絡げるからげるWrittenTies things up, and also tucks up clothing. Literary and old-fashioned; today mostly in the set phrase 「十把一絡げ」.
• Synonym結い付けるゆいつけるWrittenTies things together, or styles the hair in a habitual way. Very rarely used.
• Synonym結わえるゆわえるWrittenTies or fastens things. Written and somewhat old-fashioned; in everyday speech 「結ぶ」 is the normal choice.
• Synonym締めくくるしめくくるNeutralBrings things to a close or sums them up, and can also mean tying firmly with rope or supervising. 「括る」's summarizing sense leans toward generalizing.
• Synonym縛り付けるしばりつけるNeutralTies something down so it cannot move, and figuratively restrains. The emphasis is on fixing in place.
• Synonym引っ括るひっくくるCasualColloquial for bundling things up in one go; blunter in tone than 「括る」 and less often used.
• Synonymふん縛るふんじばるCasualTies someone up roughly to keep them from escaping. Colloquial and rough-edged.
• Synonym結わえ付けるゆわえつけるWrittenTies firmly or fastens in place. Written and not often used.
• Synonym縛するばくするWrittenBinds or restrains. Written style, not much used.
• Synonym絆すほだすWrittenTethers or restrains; today mostly in the passive 「情に絆される」, being bound by sentiment. 「括る」 is about tying into a bundle.
• SynonymつなげるNeutralJoins or connects things, and also means to transfer a phone call. Very close to 「繋ぐ」.
• Synonym繋縛けいばくWrittenRestrains people or limits their freedom. Highly literary; it does not refer to tying things into bundles.
• Synonym縛めるいましめるWrittenBinds people or things tight with rope. An old word, rarely used today.
• Synonym引き結ぶひきむすぶWrittenPulls things tight and ties them; also means to purse or close the lips tightly. Written style.
• Related絡めるからめるNeutralEntwines or winds around something, and also links one thing with another, as in 「〜に絡めて」. The emphasis is on entwining.
• AntonymとくNeutralUnties knots and undoes bindings — the opposite of bundling with 「括る」. It also means to solve a problem.
• AntonymばらすNeutralThe opposite of tying into one bundle: takes things apart or breaks them up. Also means to expose a secret.

Use 「括る」 for tying things into a bundle with string or rope, for enclosing in brackets, and for summarizing; it also appears in 「高を括る」 and 「腹を括る」. For binding or restraining, say 「縛る」; for tying a knot, 「結ぶ」. To wrap up a talk or text, 「締めくくる」 fits. Colloquial, rougher bundling is 「引っ括る」 or 「ふん縛る」; many others here (「絡げる」「結わえる」「縛する」「絆す」「繋縛」「縛める」) are written or rare. The antonyms are 「解く」 (untie) and 「ばらす」 (take apart).

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

1. 紐ひもや縄なわを物ものの周囲しゅういに巻まいて締しめる。
2. ばらばらのものを紐ひもや縄なわなどでたばねる。
3. 動うごかないように縛しばりつける。くくりつける。
4. 縛しばる、結むすぶ。
5. 話はなしなどを締しめくくる。
6. ひとつに分類ぶんるいする。ひとまとまりにする。
7. 項こうや式しきなどを括弧かっこで閉とじる。