The Meaning of tsuki [付き] In Japanese

付き
つき
Romaji: tsuki N3

What does 付き mean?

Translation and Meaning

attached, included, with, accompanied, per month

Definition

付き (つき, tsuki) is a Japanese suffix and noun form used to mark that something accompanies or is provided alongside another thing, signaling inclusion, accompaniment, or attachment in compound descriptions and labels.

Type

suffix and noun form (接尾辞・名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1. Physical attachment: indicates one object is fastened, fixed, or connected to another.
  • 2. Product feature: used to show an accessory or function is provided as part of an item.
  • 3. Service/fee inclusion: marks that a price or plan includes a particular service or allowance.
  • 4. Accompaniment: expresses that a person accompanies or is assigned to someone or something.
  • 5. Temporal/frequency nuance: in combination with counters it can convey a per-period or recurring allowance sense (e.g., per month contexts).

Composition

  • 付 (tsu/fu): the kanji base meaning ‘attach, adhere’ that provides the core idea of joining or providing.
  • okurigana き (ki): turns the stem into a noun-like/suffix form used to create compounds and modifiers indicating the state or presence of attachment.

Usage

Common in written product information, contracts, listings, and everyday speech to qualify nouns or form compounds that mean ‘with’ or ‘including’; neutral in formal texts and standard in casual conversation when describing items, services, accompaniment, or allowances; typically attaches directly to a noun or stem and appears after counters or descriptors to modify meaning.
💡 Tips
Think of 付 as ‘stick/attach’ and link the sound tsuki to the English word ‘sticky’ to recall that 付き marks something that comes stuck on or included.

Variations

  • 付く (tsuku) — verb ‘to attach, stick, be attached’
  • 含む (fukumu) — to include (synonym for included content)
  • 同梱 (dōkon) — included in the package (synonym in shipping/product contexts)
  • 別 (betsu) — separate (common antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 駅の改札で 彼は 鋭い 目付きで 私を 見た。
    Eki no kaisatsu de kare wa surudoi metsuki de watashi o mita.
    At the ticket gate, he looked at me with a sharp gaze.
    Lista:
    • 駅の改札で (Eki no kaisatsu de) – at the ticket gate
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 鋭い (surudoi) – sharp
    • 目付きで (metsuki de) – with a gaze
    • 私を (watashi o) – me
    • 見た (mita) – saw
    「目付き」 means gaze; here it functions as the noun for the gaze, and 「で」 marks the manner in which he looked: 鋭い目付きで.
  • 駅前の カフェで 働く 友達は 顔付きが 柔らかく 見える。
    Ekimae no kafe de hataraku tomodachi wa kaotsuki ga yawarakaku mieru.
    The friend who works at a cafe near the station has a soft-looking facial expression.
    Lista:
    • 駅前の (ekimae no) – near the station
    • カフェで (kafe de) – at a cafe
    • 働く (hataraku) – to work
    • 友達は (tomodachi wa) – friend; topic marker
    • 顔付きが (kaotsuki ga) – facial expression
    • 柔らかく (yawarakaku) – soft-looking
    • 見える (mieru) – looks/appears
    In this sentence, 「顔付き」 means ‘facial expression’ or ‘look’, and it is the subject of 見える.
  • 私は 付き合いを 大切に したい が 今 忙しい。
    Watashi wa tsukiai o taisetsu ni shitai ga ima isogashii.
    I want to treasure my social ties, but I’m busy now.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 付き合いを (tsukiai o) – social ties
    • 大切に (taisetsu ni) – treasure
    • したい (shitai) – want to
    • が (ga) – but
    • 今 (ima) – now
    • 忙しい (isogashii) – busy
    Uses the noun 「付き合い」 meaning social ties; the を marks the object of 大切にする (to treasure/value).
付き