拭ぬぐう

ぬ

ぐ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

拭う · godan verb (-u)

Meanings

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

Physical wiping of a surface, liquid, or dirt. Often used for sweat, tears, or a table.

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

Metaphorical use: removing an abstract thing such as a feeling, impression, shame, or blemish. Often used with words like 汚名, 印象, or 不安.

汗あせを拭ぬぐうto wipe away sweat
彼かれはタオルで汗あせを拭ぬぐった。
He wiped away his sweat with a towel.
涙なみだを拭ぬぐうto wipe away tears
彼かの女じょはハンカチで涙なみだを拭ぬぐった。
She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
〈物もの〉で〈物もの〉を拭ぬぐうto wipe something with an item such as a cloth
濡ぬれたテーブルを布ふで拭ぬぐった。
I wiped the wet table with a cloth.
汚お名めいを拭ぬぐうto erase a stigma or bad reputation
彼かれはその汚お名めいを拭ぬぐうために懸けん命めいに努ど力りょくした。
He worked hard to erase that stigma.
不ふ安あんを拭ぬぐうto dispel anxiety
その説せつ明めいを聞きいて不ふ安あんを拭ぬぐうことができた。
Hearing that explanation dispelled my anxiety.

拭ふくN3sense 1
拭く is the everyday, common word for wiping, while 拭う is slightly more formal or literary and is often used for wiping sweat or tears.
払ふっ拭しょく sense 2
払拭する is a formal, often written word meaning to completely dispel an abstract thing like doubt or worry, while 拭う can be used similarly but retains a more literary, tactile nuance.
拭ふき取とるN1
拭う is a more literary or formal word for wiping away something like tears or sweat, whereas 拭き取る is the everyday word for wiping off dirt or spills.
晴はらす
晴らす clears away worries or suspicion in a broad sense, while 拭う specifically evokes 'wiping away' doubt or a bad reputation, as in 疑いを拭う.

尻しり拭ぬぐい
cleaning up someone else's mess; making up for someone else's mistake · ass-wiping; arse-wiping
拭ぬぐい去さる
wipe away; rub out; erase
拭ぬぐい取とる
wipe off; wipe out; expunge

拭ぬぐうUsage58%
Standard kanji form; the only kanji spelling given.
ぬぐうUsage42%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.

Native Japanese verb. The kanji 拭 is used for wiping actions. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.