Overview
The verb つける is a highly versatile and common Japanese verb with multiple meanings depending on context. Its most basic and frequent use is "to turn on" something like a light or an appliance.
Common Uses
Besides turning on devices, つける can mean "to attach" or "to put on" (like wearing a watch), "to apply" (such as applying sauce or salt), and "to write down" or "to mark" (like noting a name).
Collocations and Patterns
- 電気をつける: to turn on the light
- 時計をつける: to wear a watch
- ソースをつける: to dip or apply sauce
- 名前をつける: to give a name or write down a name
Usage Notes
When using つける to mean "turn on," it is often paired with devices or lights. When meaning "to wear" or "to attach," it usually refers to accessories or items placed on the body. For "to apply," it often involves food or cosmetics. Learners sometimes confuse つける with つく (the intransitive counterpart meaning "to be turned on" or "to stick"), so remember つける is transitive and requires a direct object.
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つける is a neutral, everyday verb used in casual and polite speech alike.