つける
つける
verb (ichidan)
to turn on; to attach; to wear; to name; to season
他動詞 transitiveaction
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | つける | つけない |
| Present polite | つけます | つけません |
| Past | つけた | つけなかった |
| Past polite | つけました | つけませんでした |
| て form | つけて | つけなくて |
| ている present | つけている | つけていない |
| ている polite | つけています | つけていません |
| ている past | つけていた | つけていなかった |
| ている past polite | つけていました | つけていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | つければ | つけなければ |
| Conditional たら | つけたら | つけなかったら |
| Volitional | つけよう | — |
| Volitional polite | つけましょう | — |
| Potential | つけられる | つけられない |
| Passive | つけられる | つけられない |
| Causative | つけさせる | つけさせない |
| Imperative | つけろ | つけるな |
1.
to turn on, to switch on
To switch on a light or an electrical appliance (TV, air conditioner, radio, heater). Also written 点ける. The opposite is 消す, and the intransitive is つく: 電気がつく (the light comes on).
2.
to light (a fire, a candle)
To light or set fire to something: a fire, a candle, a gas burner, a cigarette. Usually 火をつける, also written 点ける or 付ける. Figuratively, 火をつける can mean to spark off a dispute or someone's enthusiasm.
At the campsite we gathered dead wood, lit a fire, and cooked a meal together.
3.
to attach, to fix; to apply
To attach or fix one thing to another (a button on a shirt, a collar on a dog, a basket on a bicycle), or to apply something to a surface (ointment on a cut, butter on bread). Pattern: YにXをつける. Written 付ける in kanji.
4.
to wear, to put on (a mask, a ring)
To put on or wear an item fastened to the body rather than a garment: a mask, a ring, a necklace, an apron. Written 着ける in kanji. Clothes take 着る, trousers and shoes はく, hats かぶる.
Colds are going around, so I make a point of wearing a mask on the train.
5.
to give (a name, a mark, a price)
To give or assign something to someone or something: a name (名前をつける), a mark or score (点をつける), a price (値段をつける), or a condition attached to an agreement (条件をつける).
6.
to keep (a diary, a record)
To keep a regular written record: a diary (日記をつける), household accounts (家計簿をつける), a log of one's weight or spending. Written 付ける in kanji.
7.
to season, to flavor
To give food a flavor: 味をつける (season), 塩で味をつける (season with salt), 下味をつける (season in advance, before cooking).
8.
to bear (flowers, fruit)
Of a plant, to bear or put out flowers, buds or fruit: 花をつける, 実をつける, つぼみをつける. Somewhat written in tone; in conversation 花が咲く and 実がなる are more usual.
When spring comes, the cherry trees in the park all burst into flower at once, and the whole town brightens up.
9.
to be careful ({気|き}をつける)
In the set phrase 気をつける, to be careful or pay attention. What one watches out for takes に: 車に気をつける. 気をつけて (take care) is a common parting phrase. The phrase also has its own entry.
Transitivity
Writing
Kana つける is normal for every sense and usual for switching things on. The kanji depend on the sense:
- 点ける: turn on, light
- 付ける: attach, give, keep a record, season, bear, be careful; see the separate entry 付ける
- 着ける: wear, put on
A different verb shares the reading: 漬ける (to pickle, to soak), which has its own entry.
Common patterns
- 電気／テレビをつける: turn on the light / TV
- 火をつける: light a fire
- Yに名前をつける: name Y
- 日記をつける: keep a diary
- 味をつける: season
- 気をつける: be careful
- 身につける: acquire (a skill); wear
Similar words
Verbs for wearing depend on the item:
- 着る: shirts, coats, dresses
- はく: trousers, skirts, socks, shoes
- かぶる: hats
- つける: things fastened on, such as a mask, a ring, a necklace
ASPECT (ている):
つけている is usually a state: マスクをつけている (is wearing a mask). To leave something on, use つけたまま: 電気をつけたまま寝た (I slept with the light on).
Related Words
Antonym:
消す (to turn off)
Compare:
着る (shirts, coats, dresses)
Compare:
かぶる (hats)
Compare:
点灯する (to light)