むく

む

く

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

むく · godan verb (-ku)

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Used for removing the outer layer of fruits, vegetables, or other objects. Covers peeling, skinning, paring, hulling, and stripping.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Used in set phrases like 歯をむく (to bare one's teeth) or 目をむく (to open one's eyes wide, often in surprise or anger).

〈物もの〉をむいて食たべるto peel something and eat it
みかんをむいて食たべた。
I peeled a mandarin orange and ate it.
皮かわを薄うすくむくto peel the skin thinly
じゃがいもの皮かわを薄うすくむいた。
I peeled the potato skin thinly.

剥むけるN1
剥く is the transitive verb for actively peeling something (e.g. リンゴの皮を剥く), while 剥ける is intransitive and describes the skin/surface peeling off by itself.

剥はぐN1sense 1
剥ぐ describes forcibly stripping off a covering such as skin, bark, or clothing, while 剥く is the neutral, everyday word for peeling fruit, vegetables, or shells.
はがすN2
剥く is used for peeling fruit, vegetables, or shells, while 剥がす focuses on removing something stuck onto a surface.

はがすN2sense 1
剥がす means to peel off something that is stuck onto a surface, like a sticker or tape, whereas 剥く means to remove a natural outer layer such as skin or peel.
むくれる
剥れる is read むくれる and means to become sulky or sullen, a completely different meaning from 剥く despite sharing the same kanji.
剥はぐN1
剥く is used for neatly peeling a skin off fruit or vegetables with a blade, whereas 剥ぐ implies a rougher, often forceful tearing away of a covering or skin.

むくUsage75%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 剥く is also common but It is usually written in kana.
剥むくUsage13%
Common kanji spelling, especially for peeling fruits/vegetables or skinning.
剝むくUsage11%
Rare variant of 剥く.

Native Japanese verb. The kanji 剥 is used for its meaning of 'peel off' or 'strip'.