拭う|ぬぐうnuguu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto wipe; to mop up彼は額の汗を拭った。↗He wiped the sweat from his brow.
- godan verb, transitive verbto get rid of (an impression, feeling, blemish, etc.); to dispel (e.g. shame); to erase; to remove
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 拭う（ぬぐう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 拭います（ぬぐいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 拭わない（ぬぐわない） |
| polite (masen) | 拭いません（ぬぐいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 拭わず・拭わぬ（ぬぐわず・ぬぐわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 拭った（ぬぐった） |
| polite (mashita) | 拭いました（ぬぐいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 拭わなかった（ぬぐわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 拭いませんでした（ぬぐいませんでした） |
| Te form | 拭って（ぬぐって） |
| Potential | 拭える（ぬぐえる） |
| Passive | 拭われる（ぬぐわれる） |
| Causative | 拭わせる（ぬぐわせる） |
| Causative passive | 拭わせられる・拭わされる（ぬぐわせられる・ぬぐわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 拭えば（ぬぐえば） |
| tara | 拭ったら（ぬぐったら） |
| Volitional | 拭おう（ぬぐおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 拭いましょう（ぬぐいましょう） |
| Imperative | 拭え（ぬぐえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym拭くふくNeutralThe everyday word for wiping and drying. 「拭う」 is more written and is used mainly of wiping away sweat or tears.
- Synonym拭き取るふきとるNeutralWipes off stains or liquid. 「拭う」 is more written in tone and can also figuratively dispel anxiety or stigma.
- Related拭い去るぬぐいさるWrittenWritten/formal prose for wiping something away completely, mostly figuratively, as in 「不安を拭い去る」; stronger than 「拭う」.
- Antonym汚すよごすNeutralMeans to make something dirty, the opposite of wiping clean with 「拭う」.
- Antonym塗るぬるNeutralTo paint or apply cream or lotion — the opposite of wiping off with 「拭う」.
For everyday wiping use 「拭く」 or 「拭き取る」. Use 「拭う」 for wiping away sweat or tears and figuratively dispelling anxiety or stigma; 「拭い去る」 is a stronger written variant. 「汚す」 is the opposite, to make dirty.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
