Translation guide
The English verb 'rub' covers a range of actions involving friction, from gentle stroking to vigorous scrubbing. Japanese uses different verbs depending on the body part, object, intensity, and purpose.
To move one's hand or fingers back and forth against a part of the body, often for comfort, warmth, or relief.
General verb for rubbing a surface, including body parts. Can be used for rubbing eyes, rubbing hands together, etc.
目を擦る。
Rub one's eyes.
寒いので手を擦った。
I rubbed my hands together because it was cold.
To stroke or rub gently, often affectionately. Used for petting animals or soothing someone.
猫の背中を撫でる。
Stroke a cat's back.
To rub or massage with pressure, like rubbing shoulders or a stiff muscle.
肩を揉む。
Rub someone's shoulders.
To move something back and forth against a surface, often with a cloth, to clean, shine, or spread a substance.
To wipe or rub with a cloth to clean or dry. Very common for tables, windows, etc.
テーブルを拭く。
Wipe the table.
窓を拭いてください。
Please wipe the windows.
To polish or scrub to make shiny, like shoes, teeth, or floors.
靴を磨く。
Polish shoes.
To rub or scrub, often with more force or friction. Can be used for scrubbing stains.
To apply or spread something like cream, paint, or ointment by rubbing.
日焼け止めを塗る。
Apply sunscreen (by rubbing it on).
When two surfaces move against each other, causing friction or irritation.
Intransitive verb meaning to be rubbed, chafe, or get frayed. Often used for skin or fabric.
靴が擦れて痛い。
My shoes are rubbing and it hurts.
この生地は擦れやすい。
This fabric rubs easily (gets frayed).
Transitive verb for rubbing one thing against another, sometimes causing friction.
To apply a substance by rubbing it into the skin until absorbed.
Compound verb meaning to rub in or massage into the skin.
クリームを肌に擦り込む。
Rub the cream into your skin.
To remove marks by rubbing, typically with an eraser.
General verb for erasing. When used with an eraser, it implies rubbing out.
鉛筆の跡を消しゴムで消す。
Rub out the pencil marks with an eraser.
To keep reminding someone of a failure or embarrassing fact.
Idiom meaning to add insult to injury or rub it in.
彼は私の失敗に追い打ちをかけた。
He rubbed in my mistake.
Literally 'to rub salt into (a wound)', used figuratively.
傷口に塩を塗るようなことを言う。
Say something that rubs salt into the wound.
While 擦る (こする) means 'rub', it often implies friction or scrubbing. For everyday wiping (tables, spills), use 拭く (ふく). Using 擦る for wiping a table sounds like you are scrubbing hard.
擦る (こする) is a general rub, often back-and-forth. 撫でる (なでる) is a gentle, one-direction stroke, usually affectionate. You 撫でる a cat, but you 擦る your eyes.
彼は疲れた目を擦った。
He rubbed his tired eyes.
彼女はローションを肌に擦り込んだ。
She rubbed lotion into her skin.
猫が私の足に擦り寄ってきた。
The cat rubbed against my leg.
Brush teeth (literally 'polish teeth').
Rub off the dirt.
Rub stones together.