拭(ふ)く

ふく
verb (godan)
to wipe; to dry
1. to wipe; to wipe clean
To clean a surface by rubbing with a cloth or paper.
テーブルを拭(ふ)いてください。
Please wipe the table.
涙(なみだ)を拭(ふ)いて笑顔(えがお)を見(み)せた。
She wiped away her tears and showed a smile.
汗(あせ)を拭(ふ)いた。
I wiped off my sweat.
雑巾(ぞうきん)で床(ゆか)を拭(ふ)いて汚(よご)れを落(お)とした。
I wiped the floor with a rag to remove the dirt.
2. to dry; to wipe dry
To remove moisture by wiping.
タオルで体(からだ)を拭(ふ)いた。
I dried my body with a towel.
髪(かみ)をよく拭(ふ)いてから寝(ね)てください。
Please dry your hair well before going to bed.

拭(ふ)く is a transitive verb (他動詞(たどうし)) for wiping surfaces clean or dry.

ASPECT (ている):
拭(ふ)いている indicates wiping is in progress.

PARTICLE PATTERNS:

  • [surface]を拭(ふ)く — to wipe [surface]
  • [moisture/dirt]を拭(ふ)く — to wipe away [moisture/dirt]
  • [cloth]で拭(ふ)く — to wipe with [cloth]

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 汗(あせ)を拭(ふ)く (wipe sweat)
  • 涙(なみだ)を拭(ふ)く (wipe tears)
  • 床(ゆか)を拭(ふ)く (wipe/mop the floor)
  • 拭(ふ)き掃除(そうじ) (wiping/mopping)

DO NOT CONFUSE:

  • 拭(ふ)く (to wipe) — different from:
  • 吹(ふ)く (to blow)
  • 噴(ふ)く (to spout)

All three can be read ふく but have different meanings.

RELATED WORDS:

  • 雑巾(ぞうきん) (cleaning rag)
  • 拭(ふ)き取(と)る (to wipe off)
general
Added 2026.1.14 17:40 · Revised 2026.3.4 11:09
04000/04261_fuku