Japanese word

むく

Pronunciation

Romajimuku

Meaning

  • verbpeel

Example

じゃがいもの皮をむきます。ja ga i mo no kawa o mu ki ma su

I peel a potato.

Illustration for むく (peel)

More examples

ピーラーでりんごの皮をむきます。pī rā de ri n go no kawa o mu ki ma su

I peel an apple with a peeler.

Core concept

Describes removing a thin outer layer from something while leaving the main part intact.

Common phrases

  • 野菜の皮をむくya sai no kawa o mu ku

    peel a vegetable

Similar words

剥ぐhagu: To remove a covering or outer layer from something, often in one piece.
剥がすhagasu: To remove something attached to a surface by pulling it away.
そぐsogu: To cut away a thin layer from the surface of something with a knife.

Definition in Japanese

果物や野菜などの表面を覆う皮を取り去る。kudamono ya ya sai na do no hyō men o ō u kawa o to ri sa ru

Word origin

むく (muku, "to peel") is a native Japanese verb, and its common kanji spelling 剥く (muku, "to strip") reflects the removal of an outer covering.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses むく (muku) for removing both a potato's skin and a boiled egg's shell, grouping these actions under one everyday verb.

Related words

  • むき方mukikatapeeling methodnoun

Word lists with this word