釘付(くぎづ)け

くぎづけ
noun
riveted; captivated; nailed down
1. riveted; captivated; unable to look away
Being so fascinated or engrossed by something that one cannot move or look away. The most common modern usage.
テレビに釘付(くぎづ)けになる。
To be glued to the TV.
彼(かれ)の演技(えんぎ)に観客(かんきゃく)は釘付(くぎづ)けだった。
The audience was riveted by his performance.
衝撃的(しょうげきてき)なニュースに目(め)が釘付(くぎづ)けになって、しばらく動(うご)けなかった。
I was so riveted by the shocking news that I couldn't move for a while.
2. nailed down; fixed in place
Literally fastened with nails, or figuratively unable to move from a position.
板(いた)を釘付(くぎづ)けにする。
To nail boards down.
台風(たいふう)で窓(まど)を釘付(くぎづ)けにした。
We nailed the windows shut because of the typhoon.
敵(てき)を前線(ぜんせん)に釘付(くぎづ)けにする作戦(さくせん)だ。
It's a strategy to pin the enemy down at the front line.

Usage

Most commonly appears in the figurative pattern ～に釘付(くぎづ)けになる (to be riveted to something). The literal meaning (nailing things) is less frequent in everyday speech.

Common patterns

Etymology

From 釘(くぎ) (nail) + 付(づ)け (attaching). The original meaning of fastening with nails extended to the figurative sense of being unable to move or look away.

general
Added 2026.3.1 19:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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