Meaning and Usage
The verb 剥く (むく) primarily means "to peel" or "to skin" something, such as fruit, vegetables, or fish. It is commonly used when removing the outer layer or skin to prepare food.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 剥く in cooking contexts, for example, peeling an apple (りんごの皮を剥く) or skinning fish (魚の皮を剥く). It can also describe skin peeling due to sunburn or injury.
Collocations and Patterns
- 皮を剥く (かわをむく): to peel the skin
- 果物の皮を剥く (くだもののかわをむく): to peel fruit skin
- 丁寧に剥く (ていねいにむく): to peel carefully
Register and Nuance
剥く is a neutral verb suitable for everyday conversation and cooking instructions. It is not formal but polite enough for casual speech.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 剥く with むける (the intransitive form meaning "to come off" or "to peel off" by itself). Remember 剥く is transitive and requires an object (what you peel).