付く
Meaning in Englishto adjoin, to be attached, to adhere
Animated kanji stroke order
Related sentences
Related sentences
There are no published items in this section yet.
Word context
What it means
付く means to be attached to or to adhere to something; it also means to come with or be included with something, and to acquire or gain something as a result.
Main meanings
- To physically attach or adhere to a surface or object, becoming affixed
- To come with or be included with something, such as a feature or service
- To gain, acquire, or develop a quality, skill, or habit over time
How to use it
Used in contexts of physical attachment, inclusion, and acquisition. Common patterns include 物に付く for things that pick up residue or become attached, サービスが付く for things that come with a service or feature, and 力がつく or 知識がつく for gaining a skill or knowledge over time; in speech it ranges from casual to formal, with kanji compounds and everyday phrases alike.
Variants and close terms
- くっつく (kuttsuku) — to stick or cling; romaji kuttsuku
- 張り付く (はりつく, haritsuku) — to cling to or adhere strongly; romaji haritsuku
- 付着する (ふちゃくする, fuchaku suru) — to attach in a formal/technical sense; romaji fuchaku suru
- 離れる (はなれる, hanareru) — to detach or become separated; romaji hanareru
Composition
- 付 is the core kanji meaning attach or fix; the く is the okurigana that turns the kanji into a verb, indicating the action of becoming attached or associated
Etymology
付 tsuku is the kun-reading; the verb 付く is formed by the kanji 付 and the okurigana く, reflecting a native Japanese verb formation that expresses attachment or association.
Word class
Verb (godan) (動詞, 五段)