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.

RELATED:

  • 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 2026.4.3 9:02
03500/03881_kugi