The Meaning of tsuku [付く] In Japanese

付く
つく
Romaji: tsuku N5

What does 付く mean?

Translation and Meaning

attach, be attached, stick, adhere, come with, be included, gain, be associated with

Definition

付く means to be attached to or to adhere to something; it also means to come with or be included with something, and to acquire or gain something as a result.

Type

Verb (godan) (動詞, 五段)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • To physically attach or adhere to a surface or object, becoming affixed
  • To come with or be included with something, such as a feature or service
  • To gain, acquire, or develop a quality, skill, or habit over time

Etymology

付 tsuku is the kun-reading; the verb 付く is formed by the kanji 付 and the okurigana く, reflecting a native Japanese verb formation that expresses attachment or association.

Composition

  • 付 is the core kanji meaning attach or fix; the く is the okurigana that turns the kanji into a verb, indicating the action of becoming attached or associated

Usage

Used in contexts of physical attachment, inclusion, and acquisition. Common patterns include 物に付く for things that pick up residue or become attached, サービスが付く for things that come with a service or feature, and 力がつく or 知識がつく for gaining a skill or knowledge over time; in speech it ranges from casual to formal, with kanji compounds and everyday phrases alike.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a person (亻) reaching toward and pressing a寸 (inch) to attach something a little at a time — the action of attaching is literally tying a small unit to a surface.

Variations

  • くっつく (kuttsuku) — to stick or cling; romaji kuttsuku
  • 張り付く (はりつく, haritsuku) — to cling to or adhere strongly; romaji haritsuku
  • 付着する (ふちゃくする, fuchaku suru) — to attach in a formal/technical sense; romaji fuchaku suru
  • 離れる (はなれる, hanareru) — to detach or become separated; romaji hanareru

Example Phrases

  • 新しい鍵がバッグに付くのを確認した。
    Atarashii kagi ga baggu ni tsuku no o kakunin shita.
    I checked that a new key was attached to the bag.
    Lista:
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 鍵 (kagi) – key
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • バッグ (baggu) – bag
    • に (ni) – to/at (location)
    • 付く (tsuku) – to be attached
    • の (no) – possessive/noun connector
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 確認した (kakunin shita) – confirmed
    The verb 「付く」 means ‘to be attached/adhere’; here it marks that the 鍵 is attached to the バッグ, with に indicating the location.
  • 彼女の一言で私は傷付くのを必死に隠した。
    Kanojo no hitokoto de watashi wa kizutsuku no o hisshi ni kakushita.
    With her one remark, I desperately hid that I was hurt.
    Lista:
    • 彼女 (kanojo) – she
    • の (no) – possessive marker
    • 一言 (hitokoto) – one word/remark
    • で (de) – by
    • 私 (watashi) – I
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 傷付く (kizutsuku) – to be hurt
    • の (no) – nominalizer
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 必死に (hisshi ni) – desperately
    • 隠した (kakushita) – hid
    In this sentence, 「傷付く」 means ‘to be hurt’ (emotionally). It is used intransitively and combined with のを to form 傷付くのを隠す, which means ‘to hide that one is hurt.’
  • 彼は 練習で 私に 追い付く ために 毎日 練習する。
    Kare wa renshū de watashi ni oitsuku tame ni mainichi renshū suru.
    He practices every day to catch up with me.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (kare wa) – He
    • 練習で (renshū de) – during practice
    • 私に (watashi ni) – to me
    • 追い付く (oitsuku) – to catch up
    • ために (tame ni) – in order to
    • 毎日 (mainichi) – every day
    • 練習する (renshū suru) – to practice
    「追い付く」 means ‘to catch up’; used with 私に to indicate the target, and ために marks purpose.
  • 道を歩くと、猫が私に近付く。
    Michi o aruku to, neko ga watashi ni chikazuku.
    As I walk down the road, a cat approaches me.
    Lista:
    • 道 (michi) – road
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 歩くと (aruku to) – when I walk
    • 猫 (neko) – cat
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 私に (watashi ni) – to me
    • 近付く (chikazuku) – to come close
    In this sentence, 「近付く」 means ‘to come closer/approach’; the phrase 私に近付く marks the target of the action with に; 道を歩くと expresses a conditional ‘when I walk down the road’.
  • ノート に のり が くっ付く
    Nooto ni nori ga kuttsuku
    Glue sticks to the notebook.
    Lista:
    • ノート (Nooto) – notebook
    • に (ni) – to/at
    • のり (nori) – glue
    • が (ga) – (subject marker)
    • くっ付く (kuttsuku) – to stick
    Verbo intransitivo; descreve algo que fica grudado a outra coisa. O núcleo é 「くっ付く」.
付く