← Back

爪

claw
Stroke count: 4

Readings

On readingソウ
Kun readingつめ、つま-
JōyōGrade 8

Meanings

  1. clawRtK
  2. nail
    彼は背中を掻いたり、爪を噛んだりする癖がある。He has a habit of scratching his back and biting his nails.tatoeba
    彼は爪を噛む癖をやっと直した。He managed to cure himself of his habit of nibbling his nails.tatoeba
  3. talon
  1. nail (e.g. fingernail, toenail)
  2. hoof
  3. plectrum

Synonyms

ネイル

Radicals and components

Radical爪claw
Components
How it's built
爪
  • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

vulture

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 784

Compound words

爪楊枝つまようじ
toothpick
爪切りつめきり
nail clippers
鈎爪かぎづめ
claw
雁爪がんづめ
claw hoe
糸爪へちま
sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca)
爪牙そうが
claws and fangs
爪痕つめあと
fingernail mark
爪跡つめあと
fingernail mark
爪先つまさき
toes
爪弾つまはじき
shunning
爪哇ジャワ
Java (Indonesian island)
爪鑢つめヤスリ
nail file
手の爪てのつめ
fingernail
爪あとつめあと
fingernail mark
爪弾きつまはじき
shunning
猫の爪ねこのつめ
cat's claw
小爪川獺こつめかわうそ
Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea)
爪を噛む癖つめをかむくせ
habit of biting one's nails
爪を立てるつめをたてる
to dig in one's nails
爪先で歩くつまさきであるく
to tiptoe
爪で拾って箕で零すつめでひろってみでこぼす
penny wise and pound foolish
能ある鷹は爪を隠すのうあるたかはつめをかくす
a wise man keeps some of his talents in reserve
能有る鷹は爪を隠すのうあるたかはつめをかくす
a wise man keeps some of his talents in reserve
脳ある鷹は爪を隠すのうあるたかはつめをかくす
a wise man keeps some of his talents in reserve

Additional Examples

爪を噛むのはよしなさい。
Don't bite your nails.tatoeba
爪先が浮きたっちゃうよ。
That keeps me on my toes.tatoeba

Stroke Order

4 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 爪

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step