つくづく

also: つくつく

つ

く

づ

く

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

deeply; keenly; completely

usually written using kana aloneonomatopoeic or mimetic word

Expresses a strong, often negative feeling that one has come to realize or feel thoroughly, such as disgust, regret, or weariness. Often used with verbs like 思う, 感じる, 嫌になる.

自じ分ぶんの失しっ敗ぱいをつくづく後こう悔かいした。
I deeply regretted my mistake.
彼かれの無む責せき任にんさにはつくづく呆あきれる。
I am utterly disgusted by his irresponsibility.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

intently; carefully; closely

usually written using kana aloneonomatopoeic or mimetic word

Describes observing or examining something with great attention and thoroughness. Common with verbs like 見る, 観察する, 考える.

彼かれはその絵えをつくづくと眺ながめた。
He gazed intently at the painting.
つくづく考かんがえた末すえ、会かい社しゃを辞やめることにした。
After thinking it over carefully, I decided to quit the company.

See all 15 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

つくづく思おもうto think deeply/keenly (that...)
自じ分ぶんの運うんの悪わるさをつくづく思おもった。
I keenly felt how unlucky I was.
つくづく感かんじるto feel deeply/keenly
彼かれのありがたさをつくづく感かんじた。
I deeply felt how grateful I was to him.
つくづく嫌いやになるto become thoroughly fed up (with something)
この仕し事ごとにはつくづく嫌いやになった。
I've become completely fed up with this job.
つくづく見みるto look at something intently/closely
彼かの女じょは写しゃ真しんをつくづく見みた。
She looked closely at the photo.
つくづく考かんがえるto think something over carefully and thoroughly
この問もん題だいについてつくづく考かんがえた。
I thought carefully and thoroughly about this problem.

Kanji

熟mellow, ripen, mature

Related words

しみじみN2sense 1
しみじみ conveys a heartfelt, often nostalgic emotional realization, while つくづく emphasizes a thorough, sometimes wearying realization or observation.
じっくりN2sense 2
じっくり describes taking one's time to do something carefully and deliberately, without the emotional weight that つくづく carries.
ひしひしN1
つくづく expresses a deep, often resigned realization (e.g. つくづく思う), whereas ひしひし emphasizes the force or intensity with which a feeling presses in.
しげしげN1
つくづく conveys deep, reflective realization or feeling, whereas しげしげ describes the physical act of gazing fixedly at something.
ほとほとN1
つくづく emphasizes a deep, reflective realization (つくづく思う), while ほとほと emphasizes exhaustion or exasperation from repeated trouble.

Written forms

つくづくUsage90%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
熟Usage4%
rarely-used kanji form
- つくづく
  Rarely used kanji form; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
- つくつく
ツクツクUsage4%
つくつくUsage2%
Variant kana spelling; less common than つくづく.
熟々
rarely-used kanji form
- つくづく
  Rarely used kanji form; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
- つくつく
熟熟
rarely-used kanji form
- つくづく
  Rarely used kanji form; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
- つくつく

Etymology

Onomatopoeic or mimetic origin, likely from the reduplicated sound-symbolic root つく, suggesting thoroughness or intensity. The exact derivation is uncertain.