弾く|ひくhiku[0]heiban (flat)
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- godan verb, transitive verbto play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
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.
- 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


