突く

衝く、 撞く、 捺く

Reading

Kana: つく

Romaji: tsuku

Definitions

v5k

vt

1

to prick; to stab

2

to poke; to prod; to push; to thrust; to nudge; to hit; to strike

3

to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with; to press against (the floor, etc.)

4

to attack

5

to brave (the rain, etc.)

Kanji

突

Readings: トツ、 カ、 つ.く

Meanings: stab, protruding, thrust, pierce, prick, collision, sudden

衝

Readings: ショウ、 つ.く

Meanings: collide, brunt, highway, opposition (astronomy), thrust, pierce, stab, prick

撞

Readings: ドウ、 トウ、 シュ、 つ.く

Meanings: thrust, pierce, stab, prick

捺

Readings: ナツ、 ダツ、 さ.す、 お.す

Meanings: press, print, affix a seal, stamp

Example Sentences

藪(やぶ)をつついてヘビを出(だ)す。

➥It's not good to wake a sleeping snake.

やぶを突(つ)いて蛇(へび)をだすな。

➥Let sleeping dogs lie.

珍客(ちんきゃく)も３日(にち)いれば鼻(はな)につく。

➥Even a rare guest wears out his welcome after three days.

我々(われわれ)の食料(しょくりょう)は底(そこ)を突(つ)いた。

➥Our supply of food is exhausted.

針(はり)で親指(おやゆび)を突(つ)いてしまった。

➥I pricked my thumb with a needle.

君(きみ)はみんなの意表(いひょう)をついたね。

➥You surprised everybody.