つつく

つ

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

つつく · godan verb (-ku)

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

poke repeatedly; nudge

usually written using kana alone

Light, repeated poking or prodding, often with a finger or beak.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

peck at food; pick at food

usually written using kana alone

Eating without appetite, moving food around with chopsticks or a fork.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

pick at faults; nitpick

usually written using kana alone

Pointing out small mistakes or flaws in a nagging way.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

egg on; put up to

usually written using kana alone

Urging someone to do something, often something they are hesitant about or something mischievous.

肘ひじで〈人ひと〉〉を突つつくto nudge someone with one's elbow
彼かれは肘ひじで私わたしをつついて注ちゅう意いを促うながした。
He nudged me with his elbow to get my attention.
〈物もの〉〉を箸はしで突つつくto pick at food listlessly with chopsticks
食しょく欲よくがなくて、料りょう理りを箸はしでつついているだけだった。
I had no appetite and was just picking at my food with my chopsticks.
弱点じゃくてんを突つつくto pick at someone's weak points or flaws
彼かれはいつも人ひとの弱じゃく点てんをつついて喜よろこんでいる。
He always enjoys picking at people's weaknesses.
〈人ひと〉〉を突つついて〈動詞どうし〉〉させるto egg someone on into doing something
友とも達だちにつつかれて、思おもわずカラオケで歌うたってしまった。
Egged on by my friend, I ended up singing at karaoke.

ついばむ sense 2
啄む is used specifically for birds pecking at food with their beaks, while 突く(つつく) is broader and can describe a person poking or picking at food with chopsticks.
あげつらう sense 3
あげつらう means to formally criticize or harp on someone's faults, while 突く(つつく) suggests a more casual, nagging pointing-out of small mistakes.
けしかける sense 4
けしかける means to actively incite or provoke someone into action, whereas 突く(つつく) implies a milder, more indirect nudging or egging on.

突つくN1sense 1
突く(つく) is a single, sharp thrust or jab, while 突く(つつく) means to poke repeatedly and lightly.
小こ突づく sense 1
小突く is a stronger, more deliberate shove or jab often done in annoyance, while 突く(つつく) is a lighter, repeated poke.

つつくUsage90%
Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 突く is also used but can be confused with つく.
突つつくUsage10%
search-only kanji form
突つつく
Kanji spelling; note that 突く can also be read つく with different meanings.
突つ付つく
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; rarely used.

Derived from つく (to poke) with reduplication, giving a sense of repeated or light action. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.