Japanese word

こする

Pronunciation

Romajikosuru

Meaning

  • verbrub

Example

手で目をこすります。te de me o ko su ri ma su

I rub my eyes with my hand.

Illustration for こする (rub)

More examples

スポンジで鍋の焦げをこすりました。su po n ji de nabe no ko ge o ko su ri ma shi ta

I scrubbed the burnt food off the pot with a sponge.

Core concept

Describes moving something repeatedly against a surface with pressure so that friction occurs.

Common phrases

  • 目をこするme o ko su ru

    rub one's eyes

  • 手でこするte de ko su ru

    rub with one's hand

  • 表面をこするhyō men o ko su ru

    rub the surface

Similar words

さするsasuru: To rub a body part gently with the hand.
磨くmigaku: To rub a surface to clean it or make it shine.
擦り付けるkosuritsukeru: To rub one thing against another or apply it by rubbing.

Definition in Japanese

手や物を表面に繰り返し押し当てて動かし、摩擦を生じさせる。te ya mono o hyō men ni ku ri kae shi o shi a te te ugo ka shi ma satsu o shō ji sa se ru

Word origin

こする (kosuru) is a native Japanese verb, commonly written 擦る (kosuru, "to rub"), and is not borrowed from another language.

Usage tips

  • Japanese often uses ごしごしこする (goshigoshi kosuru) for vigorous rubbing, with the repeated sound suggesting a forceful motion rather than a light touch.

Other meanings

  • scrapeverb
  • scrubverb

Related words

  • こすり方kosurikataway of rubbingnoun

Word lists with this word