こする
kosuru
To rub in Japanese is こする (kosuru).
The verb こする is used to describe moving one object against another to create physical friction. This includes actions such as rubbing your hands together to create warmth, scrubbing a surface or rubbing an area to relieve an itch.
Meaning: to move one object while maintaining contact with another object over some area (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of こする is こすった (rubbed), and the continuous form is こすっている (rubbing).
How do you pronounce it?
kosuru
Did you know?
- Japanese distinguishes between こする (kosuru) for friction and さする (sasuru) for soothing. Using こする to comfort a child might sound abrasive or too harsh.
- To describe rubbing lotion or cream into the skin, Japanese speakers prefer 塗り込む (nurikomu), which literally means 'embedding' the substance into the skin.
- In Japanese, if you are rubbing or scratching an itch, you might use the verb かく (kaku) instead of こする (kosuru). While こする implies a broad, repetitive motion, かく focuses on the specific act of scratching a single spot.
Examples in context
- 足の裏を滑らかにするために、軽石でこする。I rub the soles of my feet with pumice in order to smooth them.This sentence shows how to use こする when using a pumice stone on skin.Tatoeba #1678934 by Christophe, translation #1678938 by Christophe
- 両手をより速くこすればこするほど、両手はそれだけ暖かくなってくる。The faster we rub our hands together, the warmer they get.This sentence demonstrates how the speed of こする affects the warmth produced by rubbing hands.Tatoeba #78076 by mookeee, translation #325642 by CK
- 靴の汚れを布でこする。kutsu no yogore o nuno de kosuru.Rub the dirt off the shoes with a cloth.
Example conversation
In a living room, Hiromi is trying to clean a stain.
- 陽葵 Himariこの汚れ、布でこするだけで落ちるかな？kono yogore, nuno de kosuru dake de ochiru kana?Will this stain come off just by rubbing it with a cloth?
- 大翔 Hirotoもっと強くこすれば落ちると思うよ。motto tsuyoku kosureba ochiru to omou yo.I think it will come off if you rub it harder.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔君、やってみてくれる？Hiroto-kun, yatte mite kureru?Hiroto, can you try it?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいよ、僕がこすっておくね。ii yo, boku ga kosutte oku ne.Sure, I'll rub it for you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
