Japanese word

拭う

Pronunciation

Romajinugū

Meaning

  • verbwipe

Example

机を拭います。tsukue o nugu i ma su

I wipe the desk.

Illustration for 拭う (wipe)

More examples

こぼれた水を布で拭います。ko bo re ta mizu o nuno de nugu i ma su

I wipe up the spilled water with a cloth.

Core concept

Describes removing moisture, dirt, or another unwanted substance from a surface by rubbing it with a cloth, paper, or a similar material.

Common phrases

  • 汚れを拭うyogo re o nugū

    wipe away dirt

  • 涙を拭うnamida o nugū

    wipe away tears

  • 汗を拭うase o nugū

    wipe away sweat

Similar words

拭くfuku: To wipe a surface to remove moisture, dirt, or other unwanted material.
拭き取るfukitoru: To wipe away a substance from a surface until it is removed.
拭い去るnuguisaru: To eliminate an unwanted substance, thought, or feeling completely.

Definition in Japanese

物の表面に付いた水分や汚れなどを、布や紙などでこすって取り除く。mono no hyō men ni tsu i ta sui bun ya yogo re na do o nuno ya kami na do de ko su tte to ri nozo ku

Word origin

拭う (nugū, "to wipe") is a native Japanese verb, and the kanji 拭 (shoku, "wipe") records its basic meaning rather than forming a Sino-Japanese compound.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 拭う (nugū) for removing abstract things such as doubt, as in 疑念を拭う (ginen o nuguu), meaning "dispel doubt."

Other meanings

  • mop upverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 拭いnuguiwipingnoun

Word lists with this word