付く・附く|つくtsuku[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
付く付く（つく） is the most common written form, uses kanji and kana, and is the form beginners should use by default.
附く附く（つく） is a rarely used written variant, also using kanji and kana; learners will seldom need to choose it.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be attached; to be connected with; to adhere; to stick; to cling
- godan verb, intransitive verbto remain imprinted; to scar; to stain; to dye
- godan verb, intransitive verbto bear (fruit, interest, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be acquired (of a habit, ability, etc.); to increase (of strength, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto take root
- godan verb, intransitive verbto accompany; to attend; to follow; to study with
- godan verb, intransitive verbto side with; to belong to
- godan verb, intransitive verbto possess; to haunt
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be lit; to catch fire; to ignite; to be turned on (of a light, appliance, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be settled; to be resolved; to be decided
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be given (of a name, price, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be sensed; to be perceived
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be luckyfrom 運がつく
- suffix, godan verbto become (a state, condition, etc.)after -masu stems, onomatopoeic and mimetic words
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 付く（つく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 付きます（つきます） |
| Negative (nai) | 付かない（つかない） |
| polite (masen) | 付きません（つきません） |
| classical zu / nu | 付かず・付かぬ（つかず・つかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 付いた（ついた） |
| polite (mashita) | 付きました（つきました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 付かなかった（つかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 付きませんでした（つきませんでした） |
| Te form | 付いて（ついて） |
| Potential | 付ける（つける） |
| Passive | 付かれる（つかれる） |
| Causative | 付かせる（つかせる） |
| Causative passive | 付かせられる・付かされる（つかせられる・つかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 付けば（つけば） |
| tara | 付いたら（ついたら） |
| Volitional | 付こう（つこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 付きましょう（つきましょう） |
| Imperative | 付け（つけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
シールが付く
付く is intransitive and focuses on the sticker being or becoming attached, as in シールが付く; 付ける is transitive and focuses on someone attaching the sticker, as in シールを付ける.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym付着ふちゃくWrittenWritten register. A formal noun for dirt or matter sticking to a surface, as in 「汚れが付着する」.
- Synonym引っ付くひっつくCasualColloquial. Sticking tightly to something; also used of a man and woman getting together, with a Kansai flavor.
- Synonym密着みっちゃくWrittenWritten register. Sticking tightly to a surface; also close-contact coverage, as in 「密着取材」.
- Synonym接着せっちゃくWrittenWritten register. Bonding things together, with glue or by natural adhesion on contact, as in 「接着剤」.
- Synonym粘着ねんちゃくWrittenWritten register. Sticking through stickiness, as in 「粘着テープ」; the emphasis is on the sticky quality.
- SynonymくっつくCasualColloquial. Things stuck tightly together, or people clinging and refusing to part, as in 「くっついて離れない」.
- Synonym凝着ぎょうちゃくWrittenWritten register. A scientific term for different substances adhering when they come into contact.
- SynonymこびりつくCasualColloquial. Grime stuck on hard, or a thought that will not leave you, as in 「記憶にこびりつく」.
- Related癒着ゆちゃくWrittenWritten register. Medically, tissues adhering together; figuratively collusion, as in 「政官の癒着」.
- Related付帯ふたいWrittenWritten register. Incidental or attached to something main, as in 「付帯条件」; common in contracts.
- Related添うそうNeutralTo accompany someone or meet expectations, as in 「期待に添う」; not about physical sticking.
- Related伴うともなうWrittenWritten register. Coming along with something as a consequence, as in 「危険を伴う」.
- Related付随ふずいWrittenWritten register. Arising incidentally alongside something main, as in 「付随する問題」.
- Related随伴ずいはんWrittenWritten register. Attending or accompanying, as in 「随伴症状」; frequent in medical language.
- Related膠着こうちゃくWrittenWritten register. Mainly a stalemate, as in 「膠着状態」; used of situations that will not move forward.
- Related張り付くはりつくCasualColloquial. Thin things sticking flat; also someone staying put on watch, as in 「記者が張り付く」.
- Relatedついて回るついてまわるCasualColloquial. Following someone like a shadow, with the nuance of something you cannot shake off.
- RelatedしがみつくCasualColloquial. Clinging on for dear life; figuratively refusing to let go of something, as in 「地位にしがみつく」.
- Related絡みつくからみつくCasualColloquial. Twining around like a vine, or pestering someone; the coiling nuance is absent from 「付く」.
- Related粘つくねばつくCasualColloquial. Being sticky to the touch, as in 「手が粘つく」; the focus is on the sticky feel.
- RelatedべとつくCasualColloquial. A clammy, sticky feeling from sweat or oil, with a sense of distaste, as in 「肌がべとつく」.
- Antonym離れるはなれるNeutralAntonym. Things that were once stuck together coming apart or moving away from each other.
- Antonym外れるはずれるNeutralAntonym. Something fastened coming loose or off, or missing the mark.
- Antonym取れるとれるNeutralAntonym. Coming off or falling out, as in 「ボタンが取れる」.
Default to 「付く」 for sticking or attaching. In speech, tight contact is 「くっつく」; dirt on a surface is 「付着」; gluing is 「接着」; accompanying is 「伴う」; clinging desperately is 「しがみつく」. For coming off, use 「取れる」 or 「外れる」; for separating, 「離れる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
