Meaning and Usage
The verb 拭く (ふく) means "to wipe" or "to dry" by rubbing a surface, usually to remove moisture, dirt, or stains. It is commonly used in everyday situations such as cleaning tables, wiping sweat, or drying surfaces.
Common Collocations
- テーブルを拭く: to wipe the table
- 汗を拭く: to wipe sweat
- 窓を拭く: to wipe the window
These collocations show typical objects that are wiped.
Register and Politeness
拭く is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. When making requests, adding ください (e.g., 拭いてください) makes it polite.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 拭く with 拭ける (potential form) or with 拭う (an archaic or literary form). Also, do not confuse 拭く with 拭き取る, which means "to wipe off completely" and implies a stronger action.
Practical Tips
When you want to ask someone to clean or dry something, use 拭く with the object and ください for politeness. For example, "窓を拭いてください" means "Please wipe the window." This verb is very useful in daily life for cleaning and personal hygiene contexts.