蹴る・蹶る|けるkeru[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Which spelling to use
蹴る蹴る is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it for “to kick,” “to refuse,” and “to reject.”
蹶る蹶る is a rarely used written variant of 蹴る; learners will seldom need to choose it and should use 蹴る instead.
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto kickorig. ichidan verb
    けってドアを開あけるな。↗
    Don't kick the door open.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto refuse; to reject
    彼かれは私わたしたちの要求ようきゅうをきっぱりとけった。↗
    He rejected our demand flatly.
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto stamp (on the ground); to firmly press one's feet (against something)
Conjugation
Dictionary form蹴る(ける)
Polite (masu)蹴ります(けります)
Negative (nai)蹴らない(けらない)
polite (masen)蹴りません(けりません)
classical zu / nu蹴らず・蹴らぬ(けらず・けらぬ)
Past (ta)蹴った(けった)
polite (mashita)蹴りました(けりました)
Past negative (nakatta)蹴らなかった(けらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)蹴りませんでした(けりませんでした)
Te form蹴って(けって)
Potential蹴れる(けれる)
Passive蹴られる(けられる)
Causative蹴らせる(けらせる)
Causative passive蹴らせられる・蹴らされる(けらせられる・けらされる)
Conditional (ba)蹴れば(ければ)
tara蹴ったら(けったら)
Volitional蹴ろう(けろう)
polite (mashou)蹴りましょう(けりましょう)
Imperative蹴れ(けれ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymキックNeutralA neutral loanword for kicking, used mostly for ball sports (「キックオフ」「フリーキック」).
  • Synonym蹴飛ばすけとばすCasualColloquial. Kicks something hard enough to send it flying, and can also mean flatly turning something down (「提案を蹴飛ばす」); more forceful than 「蹴る」.
  • Synonym蹴りつけるけりつけるCasualColloquial. Kicking out at something (「ドアを蹴りつける」), often with a sense of venting frustration that 「蹴る」 does not carry.
  • Synonym蹴っ飛ばすけっとばすCasualColloquial. An emphatic form of 「蹴飛ばす」: to kick something hard and send it flying.
  • Related一蹴いっしゅうWrittenA noun used mainly in written or formal prose: flatly refusing a request or easily defeating an opponent (「要求を一蹴する」).

Use 「蹴る」 for kicking something or refusing a request (「ボールを蹴る」「要求を蹴る」). Choose 「蹴飛ばす」 for kicking away hard or flatly rejecting, 「一蹴」 for a curt refusal in written prose, and 「キック」 for ball sports.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 足あしで物ものを飛とばす。
  2. 足あしを勢いきおいよく当あてて攻撃こうげきする。
  3. 足あしで地面じめんなどを踏ふみしめて前進ぜんしんしたり跳躍ちょうやくしたりする。
  4. 拒否きょひする。踏み倒ふみたおす。断ことわる。はねつける。
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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