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.
テレビに釘付けになる。
To be glued to the TV.
彼の演技に観客は釘付けだった。
The audience was riveted by his performance.
衝撃的なニュースに目が釘付けになって、しばらく動けなかった。
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.
板を釘付けにする。
To nail boards down.
台風で窓を釘付けにした。
We nailed the windows shut because of the typhoon.
敵を前線に釘付けにする作戦だ。
It's a strategy to pin the enemy down at the front line.
USAGE:
Most commonly appears in the figurative pattern ～に釘付けになる (to be riveted to something). The literal meaning (nailing things) is less frequent in everyday speech.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～に釘付けになる (to be riveted/captivated by)
- 目が釘付けになる (to have one's eyes riveted on)
- ～を釘付けにする (to rivet/captivate someone; to nail down)
ETYMOLOGY:
From 釘 (nail) + 付け (attaching). The original meaning of fastening with nails extended to the figurative sense of being unable to move or look away.