釘(くぎ)

くぎ

noun

nail

1. nail (metal fastener)

A pointed metal pin with a flat head, hammered into wood or other materials to hold things together.

壁(かべ)に釘(くぎ)を打(う)つ。

Hammer a nail into the wall.

釘(くぎ)を抜(ぬ)くのを手伝(てつだ)ってくれない？

Could you help me pull out this nail?

彼女(かのじょ)は息子(むすこ)に遅(おそ)く帰(かえ)らないようにと釘(くぎ)を刺(さ)した。

She warned her son not to come home late.

[Note: 釘(くぎ)を刺(さ)す is an idiom meaning 'to warn, to caution']

古(ふる)い板(いた)から釘(くぎ)が飛(と)び出(だ)していて危(あぶ)ない。

There are nails sticking out of the old board, which is dangerous.

棚(たな)を作(つく)るために金槌(かなづち)で釘(くぎ)を何本(なんぼん)も打(う)ったので手(て)が痛(いた)くなった。

My hand started hurting because I hammered in so many nails to build the shelf.

釘(くぎ) is a metal nail used in construction and woodworking. Counted with 本(ほん).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

釘(くぎ)を打(う)つ: to hammer a nail
釘(くぎ)を抜(ぬ)く: to pull out a nail

IDIOMS:

釘(くぎ)を刺(さ)す: to give a firm warning, to caution someone (literally "to stab with a nail")
釘付(くぎづ)けになる: to be riveted, unable to look away (literally "nailed down")

USAGE:
In everyday life, 釘(くぎ)を刺(さ)す is the most commonly encountered expression. It means to clearly warn someone in advance so they don't forget or act carelessly.

ネジ / 螺子(ねじ): screw
金槌(かなづち): hammer

Related Words

Related: ねじ (screw)

core

Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.5.28 7:20

03500/03881_kugi