掴む
tsukamu[t͡sɨka̠mɯ̟]
The Japanese verb for "grab" is 掴む (tsukamu).
掴む means to seize.
Meaning: (transitive) to seize (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 掴む is 掴んだ (grabbed). The te-form of 掴む is 掴んで (grabbing / grab and…).
How do you pronounce it?
tsukamu
Did you know?
- In Japanese comedy, the term 掴み (tsukami) refers to the 'grab' or the opening joke used to hook the audience's attention at the start of a performance.
- The phrase 掴みどころがない is used to describe a person who is elusive or hard to pin down, literally meaning there is 'no place to grab'.
- While 掴む refers to a physical seize, Japanese uses the phrase 心を掴む (kokoro o tsukamu) to describe 'grabbing someone's heart', meaning to captivate or charm them.
Examples in context
- 彼はリンゴをつかんだ。He grabbed the apple.
- 早くつかんで！Grab it quickly!
- チャンスを掴む。Chansu o tsukamu.Seize the opportunity.
- 落ちていく手を掴む。Ochite iku te o tsukamu.Grab a falling hand.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 掴む, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
