Japanese word

尖る

Pronunciation

Romajitogaru

Meaning

  • verbbecome pointed

Example

鉛筆を削ると、先が尖ります。en pitsu o kezu ru to saki ga toga ri ma su

When you sharpen a pencil, its tip becomes pointed.

Illustration for 尖る (become pointed)

More examples

この植物は、新しい芽が伸びると先が尖ります。ko no shoku butsu wa atara shi i me ga no bi ru to saki ga toga ri ma su

On this plant, the tips become pointed as new shoots grow.

Core concept

Centers on a shape narrowing to a distinct point, with the resulting sharpness coming from that narrow end.

Common phrases

  • 先が尖るsaki ga toga ru

    the tip becomes pointed

  • 角が尖るkado ga toga ru

    the corner becomes sharp

Definition in Japanese

先の部分が細くなり、鋭い形になる。saki no bu bun ga hoso ku na ri surudo i katachi ni na ru

Word origin

尖る (togaru, "to become pointed") is a native Japanese verb, and the kanji spelling was adopted to express its meaning rather than to form the word from separate parts.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, this verb can describe a person's tone as edgy, extending the physical idea of a pointed tip to a manner that feels less gentle.

Other meanings

  • become sharpverb

Opposites

  • 丸まるmarumarubecome roundedverb

Related words

  • 尖りtogaripointednessnoun
  • 尖らせるtogaraserumake pointedverb

Word lists with this word