also: づく
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
be attached; stick; adhere; be connected
Intransitive counterpart of 付ける: something sticks to, is fastened to, clings to, or is connected with something else.
靴に泥が付いた。
Mud stuck to my shoes.
壁にポスターがしっかり付いている
The poster is firmly attached to the wall.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
leave a mark; stain; scar; take on color
Used when a stain, mark, color, or scar remains on a surface or body part.
白いシャツにワインの染みが付いた。
A wine stain got on the white shirt.
転んで膝に傷が付いた。
I fell and got a cut on my knee.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
bear fruit; earn interest; produce
Used for fruit growing on a plant, or for interest and similar gains being added.
今年は柿の実がたくさん付いた。
The persimmon tree bore a lot of fruit this year.
この口座には毎月利息が付く。
Interest is added to this account every month.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
be acquired; develop; gain strength
Used for habits, abilities, strength, confidence, or similar qualities becoming established in someone.
毎日練習すれば、自然に力が付く。
If you practice every day, your ability will naturally grow.
悪い癖が付く前に直したほうがいい。
You should correct it before you pick up a bad habit.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Plant-related use, especially in 根が付く, meaning that roots have established themselves.
挿し木にようやく根が付いた。
The cutting finally took root.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
accompany; attend; follow; study under
Used when someone stays with, follows, serves, or studies under another person; common in patterns like 人に付いて学ぶ and 人に付く.
彼女は有名な先生に付いて茶道を学んだ。
She studied tea ceremony under a famous teacher.
新人にはベテランの先輩が付いた。
An experienced senior was assigned to accompany the new employee.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
side with; belong to; join a side
Used for aligning oneself with a person, group, faction, or side; 味方に付く is a common expression.
彼は最後まで味方に付いた。
He sided with his allies until the end.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Only when written 憑く / 付く · Only with reading つく
Supernatural use for a spirit, ghost, fox, etc. possessing or haunting someone or something; 憑く is the clearest spelling for this sense.
See also: 憑く
狐が憑いたと村人は信じていた。
The villagers believed that a fox spirit had possessed him.
古い屋敷に霊が憑いているという噂だ。
There is a rumor that a spirit haunts the old mansion.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Only when written 点く / 付く · Only with reading つく
Used for lights, fires, and appliances starting to work or becoming lit; 点く is a common specialized spelling, while 火が付く is also common for catching fire.
See also: 点く
スイッチを押すと、廊下の電気が点いた。
When I pressed the switch, the hallway light came on.
湿った薪にはなかなか火が付かない。
Wet firewood does not catch fire easily.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
be settled; be resolved; be decided
Common in fixed collocations such as 話が付く and 決着が付く, meaning that a matter reaches a conclusion.
ようやく話が付いた。
We finally reached an agreement.
その件はまだ決着が付いていない。
That matter has not been settled yet.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
be given; be assigned
Used when a name, price, grade, value, or similar label is assigned to something; the transitive counterpart is 付ける.
その絵に高い値段が付いた。
A high price was put on that painting.
赤ちゃんに名前が付いた。
The baby was given a name.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
be perceived; be noticeable; catch one's attention
Often appears in sensory or perception expressions such as 目に付く, 耳に付く, and 鼻に付く.
その看板は遠くからでも目に付く。
That sign catches the eye even from far away.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
be lucky; be in luck
Idiomatic use from 運がつく; in everyday speech it is often written in kana as ついている.
くじに当たるなんて、今日はついているね。
Winning the lottery today? You are really in luck.
suffix, godan verb (-ku)
become; take on a state
Only when written 付く / づく · Only with reading つく / づく
Bound suffix use after stems, mimetic words, and similar bases; it often appears as づく in compounds and means that a state develops or becomes noticeable.
See also: 付く (づく)
秋になると、山の木々が色づく。
When autumn comes, the trees in the mountains take on color.
開演前の会場がざわついてきた。
The venue started to buzz before the performance.