Meaning and Usage
The verb 吊る (つる) means "to hang" or "to suspend" something from above so that it dangles freely. It is commonly used for objects like pictures, clothes, lamps, or decorations.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 吊る when talking about hanging laundry to dry, decorating walls with pictures, or suspending lights from ceilings. It implies the object is fixed at one end and hanging down.
Collocations and Patterns
- 吊るす (つるす): the dictionary form, often used with objects like 洗濯物 (laundry), 絵 (picture), ランプ (lamp).
- ～に吊るす: to hang on/at a place, e.g., 壁に吊るす (hang on the wall).
Register and Nuance
吊る is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It is more physical and concrete than other verbs like 掛ける (かける), which can also mean "to hang" but has broader uses.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 吊る with 掛ける. Use 吊る when the object is hanging freely from a point above, and 掛ける when the object is placed on or against a surface (like hanging a coat on a hook).