突く・衝く・撞く・捺く|つくtsuku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
突く突く is the most common written form for this sense and the one learners should normally choose when writing the word.
衝く衝く is a less common written form than 突く, but it is more common than 撞く and 捺く among these alternatives.
撞く撞く is less common than 突く and 衝く; use 突く instead when you need the usual spelling.
捺く捺く is the least common of these written forms. Learners should use 突く instead rather than choosing 捺く as the default.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto prick; to stab
- godan verb, transitive verbto poke; to prod; to push; to thrust; to nudge; to hit; to strike
- godan verb, transitive verbto use (a cane); to prop oneself up with; to press against (the floor, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto attack
- godan verb, transitive verbto brave (the rain, etc.)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 突く（つく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 突きます（つきます） |
| Negative (nai) | 突かない（つかない） |
| polite (masen) | 突きません（つきません） |
| classical zu / nu | 突かず・突かぬ（つかず・つかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 突いた（ついた） |
| polite (mashita) | 突きました（つきました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 突かなかった（つかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 突きませんでした（つきませんでした） |
| Te form | 突いて（ついて） |
| Potential | 突ける（つける） |
| Passive | 突かれる（つかれる） |
| Causative | 突かせる（つかせる） |
| Causative passive | 突かせられる・突かされる（つかせられる・つかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 突けば（つけば） |
| tara | 突いたら（ついたら） |
| Volitional | 突こう（つこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 突きましょう（つきましょう） |
| Imperative | 突け（つけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym突き刺すつきさすNeutralStabs or pierces something in with force (「針を突き刺す」); 「突く」 is poking forward with a point or finger, not necessarily piercing in.
- Synonym刺すさすNeutralTo stab, prick or sting (「蜂に刺される」); the focus is on piercing into something.
- SynonymつっつくCasualColloquial: poking lightly and repeatedly, or picking at someone's faults (「肘で突っつく」).
- Synonym小突くこづくCasualColloquial: light pokes or pushes (「頭を小突く」), with a teasing nuance.
- Related殴るなぐるNeutralBeating someone with fists, a stick or the like (「人を殴る」); it is about violence, while 「突く」 is poking or prodding.
- RelatedぶつCasualColloquial: hitting a person, also giving a speech (「演説をぶつ」); 「突く」 is poking with a point or finger.
- Related叩くたたくNeutralStriking or tapping; also criticizing or bashing (「ネットで叩かれる」).
- Related強打きょうだNeutralA heavy blow (「頭を強打する」); also powerful hitting in baseball.
- Related殴打おうだWrittenWritten/formal noun for beating, typical of news reports and legal contexts.
- Related一撃いちげきNeutralA single blow (「一撃で倒す」); the emphasis is on one strike.
- Related当てるあてるNeutralHitting or touching something against a target (「ボールを当てる」); also applying or sticking on.
- Related突き立てるつきたてるNeutralThrusting something in with force or planting it upright (「旗を突き立てる」).
- Related殴りつけるなぐりつけるCasualColloquial: beating someone hard; the tone is rough.
- Related刺突しとつWrittenWritten/formal noun for stabbing, mostly in martial arts or military contexts; rare.
- Related突き動かすつきうごかすNeutralPushing or driving someone on (「衝動に突き動かされる」), mostly with feelings and impulses.
- Related突っ立てるつったてるCasualColloquial: jamming something in or sticking it up abruptly; a coarse nuance.
- RelatedしばくCasualKansai colloquial: to smack or beat someone; also to go out eating or drinking (「お茶しばく」).
- RelatedどやすCasualColloquial: hitting or shouting at someone; rough nuance.
- RelatedどやしつけるCasualColloquial: hitting hard or berating someone; strong tone.
「突く」 is for poking or prodding with a pointed object or finger, or propping with a cane (「指で突く」「杖を突く」). For forceful stabbing in choose 「突き刺す」, for piercing or stinging 「刺す」, for beating someone 「殴る」, for striking or tapping 「叩く」, and for being spurred by an urge 「突き動かす」. Light pokes: 「突っ突く」「小突く」; hard thrusts: 「突き立てる」「突っ立てる」; hard hits: 「打つ」「殴りつける」「しばく」「どやす」「どやし付ける」; blow nouns: 「強打」「殴打」「一撃」「刺突」; hitting a target: 「当てる」.
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
