くすぐる
くすぐる
verb (godan)
to tickle; to titillate
1.
to tickle
To touch someone lightly in a way that causes an itchy, often involuntary laughing response.
足の裏をくすぐられて笑い転げた。
I was tickled on the soles of my feet and rolled around laughing.
赤ちゃんをくすぐると喜ぶ。
The baby is delighted when you tickle them.
2.
to titillate; to appeal to
To pleasantly stimulate someone's emotions, curiosity, or vanity.
彼の言葉は私の好奇心をくすぐった。
His words tickled my curiosity.
TRANSITIVITY:
他動詞 (transitive)
Pattern: Xをくすぐる
KANJI:
Rarely written with kanji (擽る), usually hiragana.
ASPECT (ている):
くすぐっている - is tickling (action in progress)
FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS:
- 好奇心をくすぐる - to pique one's curiosity
- 虚栄心をくすぐる - to appeal to one's vanity
- 冒険心をくすぐる - to appeal to one's sense of adventure
RELATED:
- くすぐったい - ticklish; embarrassing
- こそばゆい - ticklish (regional variant)