研ぐ・磨ぐ・砥ぐ|とぐtogu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
研ぐ研ぐ（とぐ） is the most common written form among these variants and the form beginners should use by default.
磨ぐ磨ぐ（とぐ） is less common than 研ぐ（とぐ）; it is a less usual written variant of the same word.
砥ぐ砥ぐ（とぐ） is less common than both 研ぐ（とぐ） and 磨ぐ（とぐ）; it is the least common of these written variants.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto sharpen; to hone; to whet; to grind
- godan verb, transitive verbto wash (rice)esp. 磨ぐ
- godan verb, transitive verbto scour; to polish; to burnish
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 研ぐ（とぐ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 研ぎます（とぎます） |
| Negative (nai) | 研がない（とがない） |
| polite (masen) | 研ぎません（とぎません） |
| classical zu / nu | 研がず・研がぬ（とがず・とがぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 研いだ（といだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 研ぎました（とぎました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 研がなかった（とがなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 研ぎませんでした（とぎませんでした） |
| Te form | 研いで（といで） |
| Potential | 研げる（とげる） |
| Passive | 研がれる（とがれる） |
| Causative | 研がせる（とがせる） |
| Causative passive | 研がせられる・研がされる（とがせられる・とがされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 研げば（とげば） |
| tara | 研いだら（といだら） |
| Volitional | 研ごう（とごう） |
| polite (mashou) | 研ぎましょう（とぎましょう） |
| Imperative | 研げ（とげ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym磨くみがくNeutralCovers polishing things clean and honing skills (「歯を磨く」「腕を磨く」), a broad range; 「研ぐ」 centers on putting an edge on blades, and also covers washing rice and burnishing.
- Synonym研磨けんまNeutralA noun for grinding and polishing (「研磨剤」), used mostly in industrial settings; it can also figuratively mean pursuing study or self-discipline.
- Related摩するまするWrittenWritten/formal prose for rubbing hard or pressing close against something (「天を摩する」); rare.
- Antonym鈍らせるNeutralMeans to make something dull or blunt — the opposite of 「研ぐ」, which puts an edge on blades.
Use 「研ぐ」 for sharpening blades on a whetstone or washing rice (「包丁を研ぐ」「米を研ぐ」). For polishing things and honing skills, say 「磨く」; 「研磨」 fits industrial grinding. The opposite of 「研ぐ」 is 「鈍らせる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
