Japanese word

かく

Pronunciation

Romajikaku

Meaning

  • verbscratch

Example

かゆいところをかきます。ka yu i to ko ro o ka ki ma su

I scratch the itchy spot.

Illustration for かく (scratch)

More examples

蚊に刺されたところをかきました。ka ni sa sa re ta to ko ro o ka ki ma shi ta

I scratched the spot where a mosquito bit me.

Core concept

Describes rubbing a surface with the nails or another edge, often to relieve an itch.

Common phrases

  • 背中をかくse naka o ka ku

    scratch one's back

  • 頭をかくatama o ka ku

    scratch one's head

  • かゆいところをかくka yu i to ko ro o ka ku

    scratch an itchy spot

Similar words

引っかくhikkaku: To drag the nails across a surface with a forceful or repeated motion.
擦るsuru: To rub one surface against another with a repeated back-and-forth motion.

Definition in Japanese

かゆい部分などを爪でこする。ka yu i bu bun na do o tsume de ko su ru

Word origin

かく (kaku) is an old native Japanese verb, but its deeper origin is uncertain; 掻く (kaku) is the kanji spelling for the sense "to scratch".

Usage tips

  • The sound かく (kaku) also occurs in 書く (kaku), meaning "to write," so the intended meaning depends on context and the kanji used.

Word lists with this word