Japanese word

解く

Pronunciation

Romajitoku

Meaning

  • verbuntie

Example

靴ひもを解きます。kutsu hi mo o to ki ma su

I untie my shoelaces.

Illustration for 解く (untie)

More examples

プレゼントのリボンを解いて、箱を開けます。pu re ze n to no ri bo n o to i te bako o a ke ma su

I untie the ribbon on the present and open the box.

Core concept

Expresses making something accessible by loosening or removing what holds it closed, tied, or covered.

Common phrases

  • リボンを解くri bo n o to ku

    untie a ribbon

  • 靴ひもを解くkutsu hi mo o to ku

    untie shoelaces

  • 結び目を解くmusu bi me o to ku

    untie a knot

Similar words

ほどくhodoku: To loosen a knot, tie, or tangled part until it is no longer held together.

Definition in Japanese

ひもなどの結び目をほどいたり、包みを開いたりして、閉じたり束ねたりする前の状態にする。hi mo na do no musu bi me o ho do i ta ri tsutsu mi o hira i ta ri shi te to ji ta ri taba ne ta ri su ru mae no jō tai ni su ru

Word origin

解く (toku) is a native Japanese verb whose older sense is to make something no longer tied or fastened, a meaning that extends naturally to unwrapping and unpacking.

Usage tips

  • For everyday objects, 解く (toku) can describe opening shoelaces or a package, but English changes the verb from untie to unwrap or unpack depending on the object.

Other meanings

  • undoverb
  • unpackverb
  • unwrapverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 解き方tokikataway of untyingnoun

Word lists with this word