書く|かくkaku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto write; to compose; to pen
   ここにあなたの名前なまえをかいてくれませんか。↗

   Would you please write your name here?
2. godan verb, transitive verbto draw; to paint

• Synonym著すあらわすWrittenWritten register: to write a book and publish it; its object is a written work, while 「書く」 covers writing anything at all.
• Synonym執筆しっぴつWrittenA fairly formal Sino-Japanese noun for writing articles or manuscripts, typical of writers and journalists; for everyday writing or notes, use 「書く」.
• Synonym綴るつづるWrittenA literary word: to weave words into a text; also to spell or bind documents. Often for expressing feelings; 「書く」 is the everyday choice.
• Synonym記すしるすWrittenWritten register: to set down or record something, stressing that it is kept as a record; 「書く」 is the more everyday word.
• Synonym著述ちょじゅつWrittenA written-style Sino-Japanese noun for writing books and expounding one's views as a scholar or author, and for the resulting works; 「書く」 is plain, general writing.
• Synonym著作ちょさくWrittenA noun mostly for the finished book or work itself, though it can name the act of writing one; 「書く」 is a verb with much broader use.
• Synonym表記ひょうきNeutralWriting or representing something in characters, with the focus on how it is written, such as kana spelling; not about composing a text.
• Synonym書き表すかきあらわすWrittenTo express a situation or idea clearly in writing; the point is conveying the content, whereas 「書く」 centers on the act of writing itself.
• Synonym物するものするWrittenAn archaic, elegant word for composing poetry or prose, now rare and often playful; in daily speech just say 「書く」.
• Related詠むよむNeutralSpecifically for composing poetry such as waka or haiku, and for reciting verse; for ordinary writing, use 「書く」.
• Related揮毫きごうFormalVery formal: to write calligraphy or paint with a brush; used when calligraphers or famous figures are asked to inscribe something.
• Related書き著すかきあらわすWrittenRare: to complete and publish a written work, much like 「著す」; in everyday speech use 「書く」.
• Related書き綴るかきつづるWrittenTo write down thoughts and experiences sentence by sentence; mostly for diaries, memoirs and other longer texts.
• RelatedしたためるWrittenRead 「したためる」: an elegant word, mostly for writing letters or documents; it also means to have a meal.
• Related書き下すかきくだすWrittenSpecialized: to write from top to bottom in one stretch, or to render classical Chinese into Japanese word order.
• Related起案きあんWrittenTo draft documents such as plans or contracts, in government and business settings alike; 「書く」 is general writing.
• Related起稿きこうWrittenA written-style word for starting a draft, putting pen to paper; 「書く」 is not limited to the drafting stage.
• Antonym読むよむNeutralThe opposite of 「書く」: to read text, or to read it aloud.
• Antonym消すけすNeutralOpposite to 「書く」 in the writing sense: to erase or cross out what has been written.

Use 「書く」 for everyday writing of characters and texts. Use 「執筆」 for articles or manuscripts, 「記す」 for recording, 「詠む」 for poetry, 「揮毫」 for formal brush inscriptions, and 「起案」 for drafting plans or contracts. 「著す」 is writing a book and putting it out, 「著述」 is authoring as a scholar or writer, and 「著作」 mostly names the work. Narrower: 「綴る」「書き綴る」 for heartfelt writing, 「認める」 for letters, 「書き下す」 for classical Chinese, 「表記」 for notation; opposites 「読む」「消す」.

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

1. （書かく）文字もじを表記ひょうきする。
2. （書かく）文章ぶんしょうを記しるす。
3. （描えがく）絵画かいがや図ずを表現ひょうげんする。→ 類義語るいぎご: えがく