1.
to flick, to flip, to snap
To strike something with a quick, sharp motion of the finger or a similar small object.
指で弾く。
To flick with one's finger.
おでこを指で弾かれた。
I got flicked on the forehead.
テーブルの上のごみを指で弾いた。
I flicked the crumb off the table with my finger.
2.
to repel, to splash off, to shed
For a surface to cause water, dirt, or other substances to bounce off or not penetrate.
この布は水を弾く。
This fabric repels water.
撥水スプレーを使えば、雨を弾くようになる。
If you use a water-repellent spray, it will shed rain.
3.
to calculate, to work out on an abacus
To do calculations, originally referring to using an abacus, now used more broadly for quick mental or rough calculations.
原価を弾いてから見積りを出す。
I'll work out the cost before giving an estimate.
そろばんを弾く。
To work an abacus.
ざっと弾いたところ、費用は百万円くらいになりそうだ。
From a rough calculation, the cost will probably be around one million yen.
TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞 (transitive). Pattern: Xを弾く.
HOMOGRAPH NOTE:
Do not confuse with 弾く (to play a stringed instrument), which uses the same kanji but a different reading.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 指で弾く: to flick with a finger
- 水を弾く: to repel water
- そろばんを弾く: to use an abacus; to calculate
- 原価を弾く: to work out the cost
NOTE:
Sense 3 originates from the physical act of operating abacus beads. In modern usage, そろばんを弾く can also mean "to calculate profit/loss" with a connotation of shrewdness.