とく・解くtoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto untie; to unfasten; to unwrap; to undo; to unbind; to unpack
2. godan verb, transitive verbto unsew; to unstitch
3. godan verb, transitive verbto solve; to work out; to answer
   この医師いしはガンの多おおくの不可解ふかかいな点てんを解とこうと努力どりょくしている。↗

   The doctor is trying to solve many of the riddles of cancer.
4. godan verb, transitive verbto dispel (misunderstanding, etc.); to clear up; to remove (suspicion); to appease
5. godan verb, transitive verbto dissolve (a contract); to cancel; to remove (a prohibition); to lift (a ban); to raise (a siege)
6. godan verb, transitive verbto release (from duty); to relieve; to dismiss
   彼かれは重責じゅうせきを解とかれた。↗

   He was relieved of his heavy responsibility.
7. godan verb, transitive verbto comb (out); to card; to untangle (hair)also written as 梳く
   外出がいしゅつする前まえに髪かみを櫛くしでときなさい。↗

   Comb your hair before you go out.

   彼女かのじょは髪かみをくしでといてリボンで結むすんだ。↗

   She combed her hair and bound it with a ribbon.

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

• SynonymほぐすNeutralFor loosening what is tangled or clumped into separate strands or pieces, or working stiff muscles loose, as in 「肩を解す」.
• Synonym解きほぐすときほぐすNeutralUntangles what is knotted or matted, and figuratively eases tension or clears up misunderstanding, as in 「緊張を解きほぐす」.
• Synonym解ごすほごすCasualA colloquial, dialectal word for unfastening or taking things apart; in everyday speech 「ほどく」 is the usual choice.
• Related緩めるゆるめるNeutralLoosens or eases something, as in 「ベルトを緩める」「規制を緩める」; it need not undo it completely the way 「解く」 does.
• Related外すはずすNeutralTakes something off or detaches it from where it is fixed, as in 「ボタンを外す」; the focus is removal, not untying or solving.

Use 「解く」 for untying knots and solving problems. For breaking up tangles or loosening muscles pick 「解す」, for easing tension 「解きほぐす」, for loosening or relaxing 「緩める」, and for taking something off 「外す」.

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

1. 【原義げんぎ:　解とく】固かたくまとまったものを、緩ゆるめる。縛しばられた状態じょうたいを終おわらせる。解除かいじょする。解放かいほうする。
2. 【解とく】 問題もんだいや課題かだいに対たいする正ただしい答こたえを見みつける。
3. 方程式ほうていしきの根ねを求もとめる。
4. 【解とく・説とく】 難むずかしい内容ないようを簡単かんたんに説明せつめいする。
5. 【梳すく・解とく】 （髪かみを）とかす。