殴なぐる

な

ぐ

る

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

General verb for hitting someone or something with a fist or object; implies intentional physical violence or forceful contact.

らん

闘とう

で

相あい

手て

を

殴なぐ

っ

て

しまっ

た

。

I ended up hitting my opponent in the brawl.

殴なぐるUsage86%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency in news and everyday use.
なぐるUsage12%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, manga, and when avoiding the kanji.
撲なぐるUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
擲なぐるUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.

叩たたく
叩く is broader: it can mean to tap, clap, strike, or criticize, and is used for lighter or more varied contact. 殴る specifically means to punch or hit with force, often with a fist.
打うつ
打つ is a general verb for hitting, striking, or typing, and is more formal or abstract. 殴る is more concrete and violent, typically involving a fist.

The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 殴 is conventionally associated with striking or beating.