繕(つくろ)う

つくろう
verb (godan)
to mend, to repair; to keep up appearances
1. to mend, to repair, to patch up
To fix something that is damaged or torn, especially clothing or fabric.
破(やぶ)れた服(ふく)を繕(つくろ)う。
I mend the torn clothes.
靴下(くつした)の穴(あな)を繕(つくろ)った。
I patched the hole in my socks.
祖母(そぼ)は古(ふる)い着物(きもの)を丁寧(ていねい)に繕(つくろ)って大切(たいせつ)に着(き)ていた。
My grandmother carefully mended old kimonos and wore them with care.
2. to keep up appearances, to put on a front
To disguise or cover up one's true state in order to appear presentable or acceptable to others.
体裁(ていさい)を繕(つくろ)う。
To keep up appearances.
笑顔(えがお)で繕(つくろ)っても本心(ほんしん)は隠(かく)せない。
Even if you put on a smile, you can't hide your true feelings.
失敗(しっぱい)したことを繕(つくろ)おうとして、かえって状況(じょうきょう)を悪(わる)くした。
By trying to cover up the mistake, I made the situation worse.

CONJUGATION (godan, う-ending):

  • Negative: 繕(つくろ)わない
  • Te-form: 繕(つくろ)って
  • Past: 繕(つくろ)った
  • Potential: 繕(つくろ)える

TRANSITIVITY:
Transitive. Takes を to mark the object being mended or the appearance being maintained.

USAGE:
Sense 1 is somewhat literary; in everyday speech, 直(なお)す or 修理(しゅうり)する is more common for repairs. Sense 2 is widely used in both speech and writing, especially in the phrase 体裁(ていさい)を繕(つくろ)う (to keep up appearances).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 体裁(ていさい)を繕(つくろ)う: to keep up appearances
  • 表面(ひょうめん)を繕(つくろ)う: to put on a front
  • 服(ふく)を繕(つくろ)う: to mend clothes
general
Added 2026.2.13 14:17
11000/11066_tsukurou