漬ける・浸ける|つけるtsukeru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Which spelling to use
漬ける漬ける is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when you need to write this verb.
浸ける浸ける is a less common written form of the same verb. Beginners should generally choose 漬ける instead.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto soak (in); to steep; to dip; to dunk
    彼かれはスプーンをスープの中なかにつけた。↗
    He dipped his spoon into the soup.
  2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto pickle; to preserve (in salt, vinegar, etc.)
Conjugation
Dictionary form漬ける(つける)
Polite (masu)漬けます(つけます)
Negative (nai)漬けない(つけない)
polite (masen)漬けません(つけません)
classical zu / nu漬けず・漬けぬ(つけず・つけぬ)
Past (ta)漬けた(つけた)
polite (mashita)漬けました(つけました)
Past negative (nakatta)漬けなかった(つけなかった)
polite (masen deshita)漬けませんでした(つけませんでした)
Te form漬けて(つけて)
Potential漬けられる(つけられる)
Passive漬けられる(つけられる)
Causative漬けさせる(つけさせる)
Causative passive漬けさせられる(つけさせられる)
Conditional (ba)漬ければ(つければ)
tara漬けたら(つけたら)
Volitional漬けよう(つけよう)
polite (mashou)漬けましょう(つけましょう)
Imperative漬けろ(つけろ)

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

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive浸けるつける⇄intransitive浸かるつかる/漬けるつける⇄漬かるつかる
湯ゆに浸つかる
足あしを浸つける
The intransitive 浸かる emphasizes the resulting state of what is immersed, as in 湯に浸かる, whereas transitive 漬ける foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in 足を浸ける.

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym浸すひたすNeutralSoaking something to wet it, as in 「タオルを水に浸す」; it centers on getting things wet, while 「漬ける」 also covers pickling in salt or vinegar.
  • Related浸るひたるWrittenWritten/formal prose; intransitive, for being soaked in water or immersing oneself, as in 「思い出に浸る」.
  • Related浸かるつかるCasualColloquial; intransitive, for soaking in a bath or being pickled through, as in 「風呂に浸かる」.
  • Related浸漬しんしWrittenWritten/formal prose; refers to soaking or permeating, mostly in chemistry or for ideas spreading through society.
  • Antonym乾かすかわかすNeutralThe opposite of 「漬ける」: to dry something off or dry it with heat, as in 「髪を乾かす」.
  • Antonym干すほすNeutralAlso the opposite of 「漬ける」: to hang things out to dry in the sun or wind, as in 「洗濯物を干す」.

Default to 「漬ける」 for soaking or pickling. Use 「浸す」 to wet something, 「浸かる」 (colloquial) or 「浸る」 (written) for being in the water yourself, and 「乾かす」/「干す」 to dry or air things out.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. (水みずやお湯ゆなどの)液体えきたいに浸ひたす。
  2. 野菜やさいなどを塩水しおみずや糠ぬか、または魚さかな・昆布こんぶ等とううまみ成分せいぶんの元もととなる(混合こんごう)漬つけ材料ざいりょうに浸ひたし、保存ほぞんの利きくようにした食品(つけもの)しょくひんをつくること。
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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