かすめる

ichidan verb, transitive verb

steal; snatch; pocket

Implies taking something quickly and often secretly, with a nuance of stealth or opportunism. Used for physical theft or figuratively for stealing ideas, glances, etc.

• すりが財さい布ふをかすめた。

  A pickpocket stole my wallet.

• 彼かれは人ひとのアイデアをかすめて自じ分ぶんのものにした。

  He stole someone else's idea and passed it off as his own.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

deceive; trick; cheat

Used for deceiving someone to gain an advantage, often in a cunning or underhanded way. Less common than sense 1.

• 彼かれは巧たくみな話わ術じゅつで客きゃくをかすめた。

  He tricked the customers with his smooth talk.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

graze; skim; brush against

Describes light, fleeting physical contact, such as a bullet grazing skin or a hand brushing against something.

• 弾だん丸がんが彼かれの頬ほおをかすめた。

  The bullet grazed his cheek.

• 鳥とりの翼つばさが水すい面めんをかすめた。

  The bird's wing skimmed the water's surface.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

flit across; fleetingly appear

Used for thoughts, expressions, or emotions that appear and vanish quickly. Often with 心を or 顔を.

• 不ふ安あんが一いっ瞬しゅん心こころをかすめた。

  A feeling of unease flitted through my mind for a moment.

• 彼かの女じょの顔かおに笑えみがかすめた。

  A smile flickered across her face.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

do secretly; do while no one is looking

Often used in the phrase 目をかすめて, meaning to do something unnoticed. The verb itself can take an action as object.

• 親おやの目めをかすめて夜よる遅おそくまでゲームをした。

  I played games late into the night without my parents noticing.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

hint at; insinuate

Archaic use for subtly suggesting or hinting at something. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 古こ文ぶんでは、かすめるが「ほのめかす」の意い味みで使つかわれることがある。

  In classical texts, かすめる can be used to mean 'to hint at'.