弾く|ひくhiku[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
    誰だれかがピアノを弾ひいている。↗
    Somebody is playing the piano.
Conjugation
Dictionary form弾く(ひく)
Polite (masu)弾きます(ひきます)
Negative (nai)弾かない(ひかない)
polite (masen)弾きません(ひきません)
classical zu / nu弾かず・弾かぬ(ひかず・ひかぬ)
Past (ta)弾いた(ひいた)
polite (mashita)弾きました(ひきました)
Past negative (nakatta)弾かなかった(ひかなかった)
polite (masen deshita)弾きませんでした(ひきませんでした)
Te form弾いて(ひいて)
Potential弾ける(ひける)
Passive弾かれる(ひかれる)
Causative弾かせる(ひかせる)
Causative passive弾かせられる・弾かされる(ひかせられる・ひかされる)
Conditional (ba)弾けば(ひけば)
tara弾いたら(ひいたら)
Volitional弾こう(ひこう)
polite (mashou)弾きましょう(ひきましょう)
Imperative弾け(ひけ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym演奏えんそうWrittenPerforming music on an instrument; covers every kind of instrument and ensembles, not just strings or keys, as in 「演奏会」. Leans written/formal prose.
  • Synonym奏でるかなでるWrittenA literary verb for producing beautiful music, as in 「旋律を奏でる」; more poetic and written-flavored than 「弾く」.
  • Synonym弾奏だんそうWrittenWritten/formal prose for playing a stringed instrument; not used in everyday speech, so it cannot casually stand in for 「弾く」.
  • Synonym弾じるだんじるWrittenWritten/formal and archaic verb for playing a stringed instrument; its old-fashioned air keeps it out of daily conversation.
  • Relatedかき鳴らすかきならすCasualColloquial word for plucking or strumming strings with the fingers, as in 「ギターをかき鳴らす」; stresses the strumming action itself.

Use 「弾く」 for playing a stringed or keyboard instrument, as in 「ピアノを弾く」. For performing music on instruments in general use 「演奏」, for a literary tone 「奏でる」, and for strumming 「かき鳴らす」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 【弾ひく】(弓ゆみを引ひくしぐさからか)弦楽器げんがっき、鍵盤けんばん楽器がっきを演奏えんそうする。
Kanji in this word
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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