Japanese word

付く

Pronunciation

Romajitsuku

Meaning

  • verbstick

Example

名札がシャツに付いています。na fuda ga sha tsu ni tsu i te i ma su

The name tag is attached to the shirt.

Illustration for 付く (stick)

More examples

シールがノートに付きます。shī ru ga nō to ni tsu ki ma su

The sticker sticks to the notebook.

シャツにソースが付きました。sha tsu ni sō su ga tsu ki ma shi ta

The sauce stuck to my shirt.

Core concept

Describes something becoming attached to another thing and remaining in contact with it.

Common phrases

  • 紙に付くkami ni tsu ku

    stick to paper

  • 肌に付くhada ni tsu ku

    stick to skin

Similar words

くっつくkuttsuku: To become attached to something, often through direct contact.

Definition in Japanese

物が他の物の表面に接して離れなくなる。mono ga hoka no mono no hyō men ni ses shi te hana re na ku na ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 付く (tsuku) is written with 付 (tsu, "attach") and has a related transitive form, 付ける (tsukeru).

Usage tips

  • English uses "stick" both for attaching something and for something becoming attached, while Japanese uses 付ける (tsukeru) for the former and 付く (tsuku) for the latter.

Other meanings

  • clingverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word