くっつく・くっ付く・食っ付くkuttsuku
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Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto adhere to; to stick to; to cling to
- godan verb, intransitive verbto keep close to; to go along with
- godan verb, intransitive verbto get involved with; to be thick with; to become intimate
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | くっつく |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | くっつきます |
| Negative (nai) | くっつかない |
| polite (masen) | くっつきません |
| classical zu / nu | くっつかず・くっつかぬ |
| Past (ta) | くっついた |
| polite (mashita) | くっつきました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | くっつかなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | くっつきませんでした |
| Te form | くっついて |
| Potential | くっつける |
| Passive | くっつかれる |
| Causative | くっつかせる |
| Causative passive | くっつかせられる・くっつかされる |
| Conditional (ba) | くっつけば |
| tara | くっついたら |
| Volitional | くっつこう |
| polite (mashou) | くっつきましょう |
| Imperative | くっつけ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
紙がくっつく
紙をくっつける
くっ付く (intransitive) highlights the state where something sticks, as in 紙がくっつく; くっ付ける (transitive) highlights the action of making something stick, as in 紙をくっつける.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym引っ付くひっつくCasualColloquial; interchangeable with 「くっつく」 for sticking or clinging, but also covers a man and woman becoming intimate or getting married.
- Synonym付くつくNeutralThe most basic verb of attachment, as in 「泥が付く」; extremely wide use, also for marks, stains and dyeing; 「くっつく」 stresses tight adhesion.
- SynonymへばりつくCasualColloquial; clings on tight or lies flat, as in 「壁にへばりつく」; carries more of a bedraggled feel than 「くっつく」.
- SynonymこびりつくNeutralFor grime or impressions stuck fast and hard to remove, as in 「記憶にこびりつく」; 「くっつく」 does not stress being hard to get off.
- Related張り付くはりつくNeutralThin things sticking fast; also shadowing or keeping watch, as in 「記者が張り付く」; 「くっつく」 is not limited to thin objects.
- Related吸い付くすいつくNeutralSticks as if by suction, as in 「吸盤が吸い付く」; stresses the sucking manner, while 「くっつく」 is a general term for sticking together.
- Related粘りつくねばりつくNeutralClings stickily and won't come off, often with an unpleasant feel; less common — everyday sticking is usually 「くっつく」.
- Antonym離れるはなれるNeutralAntonym: to come apart or move away; the opposite of 「くっつく」, where things press together or people cling to each other.
- Antonym剥がれるはがれるNeutralAntonym: a stuck thing peels or comes off, as in 「シールが剥がれる」; the opposite of 「くっつく」 in its adhesion sense.
「くっつく」 is the default for things or people sticking tight. Use 「こびりつく」 for grime or memories that won't come off, 「張り付く」 for thin things or stakeouts, and 「引っ付く」 as a colloquial twin; 「付く」 is the broad basic verb, 「離れる」「剥がれる」 the opposites.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
See also
