むく・剥く・剝くmuku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto peel; to skin; to pare; to hull; to strip
    このなしの皮かわをむくナイフを貸かして下ください。↗
    Lend me a knife with which to peel this pear.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto bare (teeth, fangs); to open wide (eyes)
Conjugation
Dictionary formむく
Polite (masu)むきます
Negative (nai)むかない
polite (masen)むきません
classical zu / nuむかず・むかぬ
Past (ta)むいた
polite (mashita)むきました
Past negative (nakatta)むかなかった
polite (masen deshita)むきませんでした
Te formむいて
Potentialむける
Passiveむかれる
Causativeむかせる
Causative passiveむかせられる・むかされる
Conditional (ba)むけば
taraむいたら
Volitionalむこう
polite (mashou)むきましょう
Imperativeむけ

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

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive剥く⇄intransitive剥けるむける
皮かわを剥むく
剥ける (intransitive) describes the skin or covering coming off on its own or as a natural result, while 剥く (transitive) describes an agent deliberately peeling or removing it.

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym剥ぐはぐNeutralFor stripping off skin or a surface layer, as in 「動物の皮を剥ぐ」, and for depriving someone of something; 「剥く」 usually means removing fruit skin or shells by hand or knife.
  • RelatedはがすNeutralUsed for peeling off something stuck on, as in 「シールを剥がす」; 「剥く」 is for paring off fruit skin or shells.
  • Related剥ぎ取るはぎとるNeutralMeans stripping or tearing off, as in 「壁紙を剥ぎ取る」, and also forcibly taking clothes or valuables; 「剥く」 is for removing fruit skin or shells.

Use 「剥く」 for removing fruit skin or shells, as in 「りんごを剥く」 and 「みかんを剥く」, and for baring the teeth as in 「牙を剥く」. For peeling off stickers say 「剥がす」; for stripping an animal's hide say 「剥ぐ」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 皮かわをはがす。はがして取り除とりのぞく。
  2. 顕あらわにする。見みせる。開ひらく。
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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