かく
kakuverb
In hiragana, "write" is かく (kaku). The polite form is かきます (kakimasu).
You can write a letter, a name or a note: てがみをかく (tegami o kaku). To ask someone to write something down, say かいてください (kaite kudasai).
Meaning: to write (verb)
What mistakes should you avoid?
There are other verbs also pronounced かく. In kanji, 書く means to write, 描く means to draw and 掻く means to scratch, so context or kanji tells them apart.
Did you know?
- Hiragana writes かく (kaku) the same for write and draw, so Japanese readers rely on context.
Examples in context
- なまえをかいてください。Namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your name.
- ともだちにてがみをかきました。Tomodachi ni tegami o kakimashita.I wrote a letter to a friend.
- にっきをまいにちかいています。Nikki o mainichi kaite imasu.I write in my diary every day.
Example conversation
Shiori helps a visitor named Paul fill in a form at a ward office.
- Shioriここになまえをかいてください。Koko ni namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your name here.
- Paulローマじでもいいですか。Rōmaji de mo ii desu ka.Is it okay in Roman letters?
- Shioriはい、だいじょうぶですよ。Hai, daijōbu desu yo.Yes, that is fine.
