1.
to hold up to the light; to look through
To hold something up against a light source in order to see through it, often to check for watermarks, flaws, or hidden features.
紙を光に透かして見た。
I held the paper up to the light to look at it.
お札を透かすと、透かし模様が見える。
If you hold a banknote up to the light, you can see the watermark.
木漏れ日が葉を透かして差し込んでいた。
Sunlight was filtering through the leaves.
2.
to leave a gap; to thin out
To create space between things, such as thinning out branches or leaving gaps for ventilation.
枝を透かして風通しをよくする。
Thin out the branches to improve air circulation.
前髪を透かして軽くしてもらった。
I had my bangs thinned out to make them lighter.
植木の葉を透かしてやらないと、虫がつきやすくなる。
If you don't thin out the garden plant's leaves, it becomes more susceptible to insects.
Godan verb (す・か・す). The transitive counterpart of 透ける (to be transparent, to show through).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 光に透かす (to hold up to the light)
- 透かして見る (to look at something by holding it up to light)
- 透かし模様 (watermark pattern)
- 枝を透かす (to thin out branches)
- 髪を透かす (to thin out hair)
Sense 1 is the more commonly encountered meaning. The connection between the two senses is the idea of allowing light or air to pass through by creating openings.