つまむ
つまむ
verb (godan)
to pinch; to pick up with fingers
1.
to pinch, to pick up with fingers
To grip something small between the thumb and fingers.
塩をひとつまみ入れる。
Add a pinch of salt.
鼻をつまんで薬を飲んだ。
I pinched my nose and took the medicine.
箸で小さな豆をつまむのは難しい。
It's hard to pick up small beans with chopsticks.
2.
to snack on, to nibble
To eat small bites of food casually, especially snacks or finger food.
おつまみをつまむ。
To snack on nibbles.
チーズをつまみながらワインを飲んだ。
I nibbled on cheese while drinking wine.
テレビを見ながらポテトチップスをつまむのが癖になっている。
I've gotten into the habit of snacking on potato chips while watching TV.
CONJUGATION:
- つままない（否定）
- つまみます（丁寧）
- つまんで（て形）
- つまんだ（過去）
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 鼻をつまむ: to pinch one's nose
- おつまみをつまむ: to eat snacks
- ひとつまみ: a pinch (of salt, etc.)
RELATED: The noun おつまみ (snacks to go with drinks) derives from this verb. The te-form is つまんで (not つまみて), following the godan -mu pattern.