Translation guide
The English word 'rubbing' can refer to several distinct actions: applying friction to a surface, making a copy by rubbing, or the resulting copy itself. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To move something back and forth against a surface with pressure, often for cleaning, polishing, or soothing.
General verb for rubbing one thing against another. Can be used for cleaning, polishing, or scratching.
タオルで顔をこすった。
I rubbed my face with a towel.
汚れをこすり落とした。
I rubbed off the dirt.
Often used in set phrases or when the rubbing is more forceful or continuous. Can also mean to strike a match.
マッチを擦って火をつけた。
I struck a match and lit it.
手を擦り合わせて暖めた。
I rubbed my hands together to warm them.
To rub something against something else, often with the nuance of pressing or smearing.
猫が足に体をこすりつけてきた。
The cat rubbed its body against my leg.
To rub gently, often for soothing or comforting, like rubbing a sore muscle or a child's back.
母は子供の背中をさすった。
The mother rubbed her child's back.
To create a copy of a textured surface by placing paper over it and rubbing with charcoal, pencil, or crayon.
The standard term for making a rubbing of an inscription, stone monument, or similar. '拓本' (takuhon) is the resulting rubbing.
古い石碑の拓本を取った。
I made a rubbing of the old stone monument.
The rubbing itself, the copy made by this technique. Often used in historical or artistic contexts.
この拓本は江戸時代のものです。
This rubbing is from the Edo period.
Literally 'to rub out', can be used for making a rubbing by transferring a pattern, but less common than 拓本.
木の葉の模様を紙に擦り出した。
I rubbed the leaf pattern onto the paper.
The piece of paper with the transferred image or text, created by the rubbing technique.
The standard term for the physical rubbing. Used in art, archaeology, and calligraphy.
壁に拓本が飾ってある。
A rubbing is displayed on the wall.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'something rubbed out', but not a standard term.
これは葉っぱを擦り出したものです。
This is a rubbing of a leaf.
こする is the most common and versatile for rubbing actions. 擦る (する) is often used in fixed expressions or when the rubbing is more forceful. さする implies a gentle, soothing rub, often with the palm.
Do not use こする or 擦る to mean making a rubbing of a monument. Use 拓本を取る instead. Saying 石碑をこする would mean you are physically rubbing the stone, not making a copy.