磨く・研く・琢く|みがくmigaku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
磨く磨く is the most common and most standard written form. Beginners should use it as their default choice.
研く研く is a less common written variant and is rarely used; you will seldom encounter it.
琢く琢く is a less common written variant and is rarely used; you will seldom encounter it.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto polish; to shine; to burnish; to scour; to scrub; to brush (teeth); to grind (e.g. a lens)
- godan verb, transitive verbto refine (a skill, etc.); to improve; to hone; to polish (up); to cultivate (one's character)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 磨く（みがく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 磨きます（みがきます） |
| Negative (nai) | 磨かない（みがかない） |
| polite (masen) | 磨きません（みがきません） |
| classical zu / nu | 磨かず・磨かぬ（みがかず・みがかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 磨いた（みがいた） |
| polite (mashita) | 磨きました（みがきました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 磨かなかった（みがかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 磨きませんでした（みがきませんでした） |
| Te form | 磨いて（みがいて） |
| Potential | 磨ける（みがける） |
| Passive | 磨かれる（みがかれる） |
| Causative | 磨かせる（みがかせる） |
| Causative passive | 磨かせられる・磨かされる（みがかせられる・みがかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 磨けば（みがけば） |
| tara | 磨いたら（みがいたら） |
| Volitional | 磨こう（みがこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 磨きましょう（みがきましょう） |
| Imperative | 磨け（みがけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym研磨けんまWrittenWritten/formal Sino-Japanese word for grinding and polishing, mostly industrial as in 「研磨剤」; also honing knowledge or disciplining oneself.
- Synonym研ぐとぐNeutralSharpening a blade on a whetstone, or washing rice, as in 「包丁を研ぐ」; with blades the main aim is a keen edge.
- Synonym磨き上げるみがきあげるNeutralPolishing something repeatedly until it gleams; stresses thorough completion more than 「磨く」.
- Related洗練せんれんWrittenWritten/formal word for writing or taste being polished until elegant, as in 「洗練されたデザイン」.
- RelatedリファインWrittenWritten/formal loanword for improving or refining something, mainly in technical and design contexts; rare in everyday speech.
- Antonym汚すよごすNeutralThe opposite of 「磨く」: to make something clean dirty.
- Antonym曇らせるくもらせるNeutralAntonym of the polishing sense of 「磨く」: making glass and the like lose their luster or turn cloudy.
Default to 「磨く」 for polishing things and honing skills. Use 「研ぐ」 for sharpening knives, 「磨き上げる」 for polishing until it gleams, 「研磨」 for industrial polishing, 「洗練」 for refined elegance, and 「汚す」 for making something dirty.
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
