描く
kaku[ka̠kɯ̟]
The English phrase "to draw" is translated into Japanese as 描く (kaku).
描く means to produce a picture or a diagram by making lines and marks on a surface. It is most commonly used in the collocation 絵を描く, which means "to draw a picture".
Which one should you use?
A common distinction exists between the homophones 描く and 書く. While 描く (kaku) means to draw or paint a picture, 書く (kaku) is used specifically for writing text or characters.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 描く is 描いた. To connect sentences or to request an action, use the te-form 描いて.
How do you pronounce it?
kaku
Did you know?
- While 描く describes the act of drawing, Japanese has a specific term 絵心 (e-gokoro) to describe artistic talent. It literally translates to 'picture heart', suggesting that the ability to draw comes from the soul rather than just technical skill.
- The word 描く can be used metaphorically to describe the act of 'sketching' or planning a future goal. In this context, it refers to envisioning a desired outcome rather than making a physical mark.
- Japanese often uses 描く to cover both sketching with a pencil and painting with a brush. Unlike English, which distinguishes between 'draw' and 'paint', the same word is commonly used for both activities.
Examples in context
- 絵を描くのは好き？Do you like to draw?This sentence is useful for asking if someone enjoys the activity of using 描く.Tatoeba #9510587 by small_snow, translation #3825077 by CK
- 私は絵を描くのが好きです。I like to draw pictures.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal preference for using 描く.Tatoeba #157925 by tommy_san, translation #256602 by CK
- 絵を描くのが好きな生徒もいますよ。Some of the students like to draw pictures.This sentence is useful for describing a group of students who enjoy using 描く.Tatoeba #11266759 by bunbuku, translation #45912 by CK
- 彼は自分のキャラクターを描くのが上手です。He is good at drawing his own characters.
- 友達と一緒にお絵かきをするのが楽しい。Drawing with friends is fun.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 描く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
