ほどく・解くhodoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto undo; to untie; to unfasten; to unlace; to unravel; to loosen; to unpack
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | ほどく |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | ほどきます |
| Negative (nai) | ほどかない |
| polite (masen) | ほどきません |
| classical zu / nu | ほどかず・ほどかぬ |
| Past (ta) | ほどいた |
| polite (mashita) | ほどきました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | ほどかなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | ほどきませんでした |
| Te form | ほどいて |
| Potential | ほどける |
| Passive | ほどかれる |
| Causative | ほどかせる |
| Causative passive | ほどかせられる・ほどかされる |
| Conditional (ba) | ほどけば |
| tara | ほどいたら |
| Volitional | ほどこう |
| polite (mashou) | ほどきましょう |
| Imperative | ほどけ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
紐をほどく
解ける focuses on the string coming undone by itself or without specifying an agent, while 解く describes someone deliberately untying it.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymほぐすNeutralFor kneading or breaking something apart, and for easing tension, as in 「肩をほぐす」; 「解く」 centers on undoing a knot.
- Synonym解きほぐすときほぐすNeutralSuggests working a tangle loose bit by bit, and figuratively clearing up a misunderstanding; 「解く」 is simply undoing.
- Related緩めるゆるめるNeutralMeans loosening or relaxing something, like a tie; 「解く」 is undoing it completely.
- Antonym結ぶむすぶNeutralTo tie or knot something — the opposite of 「解く」, which undoes.
- Antonym縛るしばるNeutralTo bind or tie something up — the opposite of 「解く」, which unbinds.
Use 「解く」(ほどく) to undo a knot or unwrap a package; 「ほぐす」 for kneading loose or easing tension, 「解きほぐす」 for untangling, 「緩める」 for loosening, and 「結ぶ」 for tying.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
English equivalents
See also
