付ける
つける
hepburn tsukeru
to attach, to turn on
Part of speech · ichidan-verb
Pattern visualization
no decomposition available
Examples
- 電気をつけてください。Please turn on the light.
- シールを箱につけました。I stuck a sticker on the box.
Collocations
つける (tsukeru, turn on / attach)電気をつける (denki wo tsukeru, turn on the light)気をつける (ki wo tsukeru, be careful)名前をつける (namae wo tsukeru, give a name)日記をつける (nikki wo tsukeru, keep a diary)
Mnemonic
つける — 付ける, Yamato. An ichidan verb. Transitive. The core sense is 'to attach A to B, to bring into contact' ── that simple act reaches far into metaphor ── 電気をつける: 'attach' current to the bulb = turn on the light. 名前をつける: 'attach' a name to a person = to name. 日記をつける: 'attach' writing to a notebook = to keep a diary. 気をつける: 'attach' the mind to something = to be careful. The kanji split the senses ── 付ける (attach), 着ける (put on the body), 点ける (kindle a light). The intransitive pair is つく tsuku ── 電気がつく (the light comes on). 付ける / つく is one transitive-intransitive pair. A single act, 'attaching', carries lighting, naming, recording, and attention all at once.
Quick check
Japanese for "Be careful!"