かき撫なでる

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

smooth with the hand; stroke; comb down

Gently running one's hand over a surface, hair, or fabric to smooth or caress it. Often implies a light, repetitive motion.

彼かの女じょは髪かみをそっとかき撫なでた。
She gently stroked her hair.
しわになった紙かみを手てでかき撫なでて伸のばし

た

。

I smoothed out the wrinkled paper with my hand.

2

ichidan verb, transitive verb

strum; pluck (a stringed instrument)

Playing a stringed instrument by lightly brushing or plucking the strings, often in a casual or gentle manner. Less common than 弾く for formal playing.

彼かれはギターの弦げんをかき撫なでながら歌うたい始はじめた。
He started singing while strumming the guitar strings.

Written forms

かき撫なでるUsage67%
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
搔かき撫なでるUsage33%
search-only kanji form
Old form of 掻; search-only variant.
掻かき撫なでる
Variant with 掻く kanji; less common but still used.

Kanji

撫stroke, pat, smooth down
搔to scratch
掻scratch, rake, comb

Similar words

撫なでる
撫でる is the base verb meaning 'to stroke' or 'to pat gently'. かき撫でる adds the prefix かき (掻き), which intensifies or adds a sense of 'scratching' or 'raking' motion, making it more about smoothing or strumming with a light, sweeping touch.
弾ひく
弾く is the standard verb for playing a stringed instrument. かき撫でる implies a more casual, gentle strumming or plucking, often without formal technique.

Etymology

Compound of 掻き (kaki, continuative form of 掻く 'to scratch, rake') + 撫でる (naderu, 'to stroke'). The prefix 掻き adds a nuance of light, sweeping motion.