Japanese word

つつく

Pronunciation

Romajitsutsuku

Meaning

  • verbpoke

Example

友達の肩を指でつつきます。tomo dachi no kata o yubi de tsu tsu ki ma su

I poke my friend's shoulder with my finger.

Illustration for つつく (poke)

More examples

画面を指でつつきます。ga men o yubi de tsu tsu ki ma su

I poke the screen with my finger.

Core concept

Describes making light, repeated contact with a pointed part of the body or an object, often to get attention.

Common phrases

  • 肩をつつくkata o tsu tsu ku

    poke someone's shoulder

  • 指でつつくyubi de tsu tsu ku

    poke with a finger

  • 背中をつつくse naka o tsu tsu ku

    poke someone's back

Similar words

突くtsuku: To make contact with someone or something by pushing a pointed part or object against it.
小突くkozuku: To jab someone lightly, especially with a finger, elbow, or shoulder.
ついばむtsuibamu: To peck at and eat food using a bird's beak.

Definition in Japanese

指先やくちばしなどで、物や人の表面を軽く繰り返し触れる。yubi saki ya ku chi ba shi na do de mono ya hito no hyō men o karu ku ku ri kae shi fu re ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb つつく (tsutsuku) has no securely established borrowed source, and its exact historical origin remains uncertain; its modern use centers on repeated light contact from a point.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese animal descriptions, つつく (tsutsuku) commonly describes a bird pecking at food, while everyday speech also uses it for a light poke on a person's shoulder.

Other meanings

  • nudgeverb
  • peck at ___verb

Related words

  • つつきtsutsukipokenoun

Word lists with this word