つける・付ける・着ける・附けるtsukeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Which spelling to use
付ける付ける is the most common kanji-and-kana spelling, but the word is usually written in kana alone; beginners can use 付ける when a kanji spelling is wanted.
着ける着ける is less common than 付ける. You may encounter it, but choose 付ける when selecting a kanji spelling.
附ける附ける is rarely used, so you will seldom see it. Treat it as a less common variant rather than the form to choose.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto attach; to join; to connect; to add; to append; to affix; to stick; to glue; to fasten; to sew on; to apply (ointment); to put against
    おまえの上着うわぎは私の勘定かんじょうにつけておきなさい。↗
    Put your coat on my account.
  2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto furnish (a house with)
    自宅じたくを改築かいちくする際さいに、この部屋へやにだけ防音ぼうおん設備せつびと内鍵うちかぎを付つけたんだ。↗
    When my home had an extension built I only had this room fitted with soundproofing and an internal lock.
  3. ichidan verb, transitive verbto wear; to put on
    鎧よろいをつけている人ひとは、転ころぶと大おおきな音おとがする。↗
    He who wears armor falls with a big crash!
  4. ichidan verb, transitive verbto keep a diary; to make an entry
    彼女かのじょは昔むかし、日記にっきを付つけていたが今いまはつけていない。↗
    She used to keep a diary, but she no longer does.
  5. ichidan verb, transitive verbto appraise; to set (a price)
    あの店みせでは商品しょうひんを値下ねさげして値段ねだんがつけてある。↗
    They mark down goods at that shop.
  6. ichidan verb, transitive verbto allot; to budget; to assign
  7. ichidan verb, transitive verbto bring alongside
  8. ichidan verb, transitive verbto place (under guard or doctor)
  9. ichidan verb, transitive verbto follow (someone); to shadow; to tail; to stalk
    警官けいかんはその男おとこをつけた。↗
    The policeman followed him.
  10. ichidan verb, transitive verbto load; to give (courage to)
  11. ichidan verb, transitive verbto keep (an eye on)
  12. ichidan verb, transitive verbto establish (relations or understanding)
  13. ichidan verb, transitive verbto turn on (a light)
    トムがテレビをつけたとたんにヒューズがとんだ。↗
    No sooner had Tom turned on the TV than the fuse blew.
  14. ichidan verb, transitive verbto produce flowers (of a plant); to produce fruit
    私の木きは少すこし花はなをつけたが実じつはならなかった。↗
    My tree had a few blossoms but no fruit.
  15. ichidan verb, transitive verb, goto attach; to play an attachmentusu. ツケる
  16. suffix, ichidan verbto do intensely; to do fiercely; to do stronglyafter -masu stem of verb
  17. suffix, ichidan verbto be used to (doing); to be accustomed toafter -masu stem of verb
Conjugation
Dictionary formつける
Polite (masu)つけます
Negative (nai)つけない
polite (masen)つけません
classical zu / nuつけず・つけぬ
Past (ta)つけた
polite (mashita)つけました
Past negative (nakatta)つけなかった
polite (masen deshita)つけませんでした
Te formつけて
Potentialつけられる
Passiveつけられる
Causativeつけさせる
Causative passiveつけさせられる
Conditional (ba)つければ
taraつけたら
Volitionalつけよう
polite (mashou)つけましょう
Imperativeつけろ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive付ける⇄intransitive付くつく
シールが付つく
シールを付つける
付く describes something becoming attached or sticking on its own, while 付ける focuses on the action of someone attaching something.

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymくっつけるCasualColloquial; pressing two things tightly together, as in 「机をくっ付ける」, and also matchmaking a couple. Replaces 付ける only in this tight-joining sense.
  • Synonym貼付ちょうふWrittenWritten/formal prose; pasting things like photos or stamps, as in 「写真を貼付する」; typical on forms and documents, where it can replace 付ける.
  • Synonym添付てんぷNeutralNeutral; attaching extra material to a document or email, as in 「ファイルを添付する」. The usual word for attachments, a narrower use than 付ける.
  • Synonym接着せっちゃくNeutralNeutral; bonding with glue or another adhesive, as in 「接着剤」; the emphasis is on the bonded joint itself.
  • Synonym付するふするWrittenWritten/formal prose; the same meaning as 「付す」, seen mostly in official documents, as in 「条件を付する」.
  • Synonym引っ付けるひっつけるCasualColloquial; sticking or pasting things together, close in sense to 「くっ付ける」 but far less common, with a dialectal flavor.
  • Synonym糊付けのりづけNeutralNeutral; pasting with paste or starching clothes; the objects are paper or cloth, such as a letter.
  • Synonym糊着こちゃくWrittenWritten/formal prose; gluing things together, and figuratively clinging stubbornly; very rare.
  • Related固定こていNeutralNeutral; fixing something in place so it cannot move, as in 「棚を壁に固定する」; the emphasis is on keeping it immobile.
  • Related据え付けるすえつけるNeutralNeutral; installing equipment and fixing it securely in place, as in 「エアコンを据え付ける」; for appliances and machinery.
  • Related付着ふちゃくNeutralNeutral; sticking to a surface naturally, as in 「汚れが付着する」; intransitive, so what clings is the subject.
  • Related作り付けるつくりつけるNeutralNeutral; fixing furniture and the like to a wall as a built-in unit, as in 「作り付けの棚」; made to be non-removable.
  • Related付すふすWrittenWritten/formal prose; appending something, or handing a matter over for handling, as in 「注釈を付す」「審議に付す」; found in documents, rare in casual talk.
  • Antonym外すはずすNeutralAntonym of 付ける; taking off something worn or removing something fitted, as in 「眼鏡を外す」.
  • AntonymはがすNeutralAntonym of 付ける; peeling or tearing off something stuck to a surface, as in 「シールを剥がす」.

For attaching, pasting and wearing accessories, default to 「付ける」 (hats take 「かぶる」). Use 「くっ付ける」 for pressing things tightly together, 「添付」 for file attachments, 「固定」 for fixing in place, 「据え付ける」 for installing equipment. 「貼付」 and written 「付す」「付する」 suit documents; 「接着」「糊付け」 involve glue or paste; 「付着」 is what clings on its own; 「外す」「剥がす」 are opposites: taking off vs. peeling off.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 別々べつべつのものを、隙間すきまなく合あわせること、また、この状態じょうたいが継続けいぞくさせ、分離ぶんりさせることを難むずかしくさせること。
  2. 接着せっちゃくする。
  3. (付つける・着つける)(服ふくなどを)軽かるく着きる。装着そうちゃくする。
  4. (塗り薬ぬりぐすりなどを)体たいに塗ぬる。
  5. (能力のうりょくなどを)得とくさせる。
  6. (付つける・属ぞくける)ある人ひとや団体だんたいなどに従したがわせる。
  7. 追尾ついびする。尾行びこうする。
  8. 書き込かきこむ。書き記かきしるす
  9. 連用形れんようけいの動詞どうしに後続こうぞくし、強つよめに~をする、強引ごういんに~をする、という意味いみを付与ふよする。
  10. 連用形れんようけいの動詞どうしに後続こうぞくし、~し慣なれている、普段ふだんから~をしている、~するのに馴染なじんでいる、という意味いみを付与ふよする。
  11. (着つける・点つける)火ひを、種火たねびなどから移うつし、燃え上もえあがらせる。点火てんかする。着火ちゃっかする。
  12. 明あかりをともす。
  13. (電化でんか製品せいひんなどを)起動きどうさせる。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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