つつく
つつく
verb (godan)
to poke; to pick at; to peck
1.
to poke, to prod, to jab
To repeatedly push or tap at something with a finger, stick, or similar object.
指でつつく。
To poke with a finger.
隣の人の肘をつついた。
I poked the person next to me with my elbow.
箸で料理をつつきながら、ぼんやりしていた。
I was spacing out while picking at the food with my chopsticks.
2.
to pick at (food), to nibble
To eat food in small amounts, picking at it without much appetite. Also used for eating snacks or side dishes casually.
箸で料理をつつきながら、ぼんやりしていた。
I was spacing out while picking at the food with my chopsticks.
鍋をみんなでつつく。
Everyone picks at the hot pot together.
ビールを飲みながら枝豆をつつく。
I snack on edamame while drinking beer.
酒のつまみをつつきながら話が弾んだ。
The conversation flowed as we picked at snacks with our drinks.
3.
to peck (of a bird)
Used for birds striking at food or objects with their beaks.
鳥が地面をつついている。
A bird is pecking at the ground.
にわとりが餌をつつく。
The chicken pecks at its food.
カラスが袋をつついてゴミを散らかしていた。
Crows were pecking at the bag and scattering the garbage.
CONJUGATION:
- つつかない（否定）
- つつきます（丁寧）
- つついて（て形）
- つついた（過去）
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 鍋をつつく: to eat from a shared pot
- つまみをつつく: to pick at snacks
- 箸でつつく: to poke/pick with chopsticks
USAGE: Sense 2 (picking at food) is very common in casual speech, especially when describing eating small dishes or shared meals in a relaxed atmosphere.