Common word› JLPT N5 › Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation 弾く · godan verb (-ku)
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 弾ひ く 弾ひ かない Polite 弾ひ きます 弾ひ きません Past polite 弾ひ きました 弾ひ きませんでした Past 弾ひ いた 弾ひ かなかった Te-form 弾ひ いて 弾ひ かないで Desire 弾ひ きたい 弾ひ きたくない Potential 弾ひ ける 弾ひ けない Passive 弾ひ かれる 弾ひ かれない Causative 弾ひ かせる 弾ひ かせない Causative passive 弾ひ かせられる also 弾ひ かされる 弾ひ かせられない also 弾ひ かされない Volitional 弾ひ こう Polite volitional 弾ひ きましょう Imperative 弾ひ け 弾ひ くな Conditional 弾ひ けば 弾ひ かなければ Tara conditional 弾ひ いたら 弾ひ かなかったら
Related words 演奏する is a formal, general verb for playing music on any instrument, while 弾く specifically means to play a stringed or keyboard instrument.
弾く is the everyday verb for playing string instruments or piano, while 奏でる is a more literary word that highlights the graceful sound produced.
Don't confuse with· 7 弾く (ひく ) means to play a stringed or keyboard instrument, while the homophone 引く (ひく ) means to pull; they are distinguished only by context and kanji.
弾く is used for stringed or keyboard instruments, while 吹く is used for wind instruments like flute or trumpet.
弾く is used for stringed or keyboard instruments, while 叩く is used for percussion instruments like drums.
Show 4 more Show fewer 弾く (ひく ) means 'to play a stringed or keyboard instrument' and is written with the same kanji as 弾む but has an unrelated meaning and reading.
弾く （はじく ）means to flick or snap something with a quick light motion, while 弾く （ひく ）means to play a string instrument in the general sense of performing music, and the two are easily confused because they share the same kanji.
弾く (ひく ) means to play a stringed or keyboard instrument and is unrelated in reading and meaning to 弾ける , despite sharing the kanji 弾 .
轢く means 'run over' with a vehicle, while 弾く (same reading ひく ) means to play a stringed instrument or piano.
Word family· 12 singing to one's own accompaniment; vocal performance with self-accompaniment
player (of a stringed or keyboard instrument)
shamisen accompanist for dance practice · shamisen accompaniment for dance practice
player; performer
string instrument; stringed instrument
Show 6 more Show fewer trick playing (on a stringed instrument)
plucking with the fingers; fingerpicking
strum; pluck the strings
first playing of an instrument in the New Year
worthiness as an opponent; challenge
singing while playing an instrument; singing to one's own accompaniment
See all 12 in Explore →
Etymology The kanji 弾 means 'bullet' or 'play (a stringed instrument)'. The reading ひく is a native Japanese verb meaning 'to pull', which developed the specialized sense of plucking or playing stringed instruments.
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