解とく

と

く

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

untie; unfasten; undo

Physical action of untying knots, strings, ribbons, or unwrapping something tied or fastened.

靴くつひもを解とく。
I untie my shoelaces.
プレゼントのリボンを解といた。
I untied the ribbon on the present.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

unsew; unstitch

Specifically for removing stitches or seams; less common than general untying.

縫ぬい目めを解といて、服ふくを直なおす。
I unstitch the seams and mend the clothes.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

solve; work out; answer

Used for solving problems, puzzles, equations, riddles, or answering questions.

数すう学がくの問もん題だいを解とく。
I solve a math problem.
なぞなぞを解といてみてください。
Please try to solve the riddle.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

dispel; clear up; remove (suspicion)

For resolving misunderstandings, doubts, or negative feelings; often used with 誤解, 疑い, 不満.

話はなし合あって誤ご解かいを解といた。
We talked and cleared up the misunderstanding.
彼かれの説せつ明めいが私わたしの疑うたがいを解といた。
His explanation dispelled my doubts.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

cancel; lift; release

For canceling contracts, lifting bans, releasing someone from duty, or ending a state of restriction. Sense 6 (release from duty) is merged here as a similar abstract removal of obligation.

契けい約やくを解とく。
I cancel the contract.
彼かれはその役やく職しょくを解とかれた。
He was released from that post.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

comb; untangle (hair)

usually written using kana alone

Usually written in kana (とく). Refers to combing or carding hair to remove tangles. Cross-referenced with とかす.

Written forms

解とくUsage92%
Standard kanji for most senses: untying, solving, dispelling, canceling, releasing.
とくUsage8%
Kana spelling is standard for the combing sense.

Kanji

解unravel, notes, key

Similar words

ほどく
ほどく also means to untie or undo, but often implies loosening or unraveling something that is tangled or tightly bound, while 解く is more general for untying, solving, or canceling.
とかす
とかす is the transitive verb for combing or disentangling hair, very similar to the kana sense of 解く (とく). とかす is more common for daily hair combing.

Etymology

The kanji 解 carries meanings of untie, solve, and release. The verb とく is a native Japanese word with broad application to undoing physical ties and abstract problems. The combing sense is a specialized use, often written in kana.