🦅 Project Eagle
Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "つく (tsuku)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

つく

つく (tsuku)
N4 / CEFR
VS
Kanji Option B

付く

つく (tsuku)
N4 / CEFR

Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "つく (tsuku)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.
  • つく (Level: N4): Translates to "to arrive; to reach" and is used when Intransitive verb. Often used to express arriving at a place.
  • 付く (Level: N4): Maps to "to be attached, to stick, to be stained, to be turned on" and carries the nuance of This is an intransitive verb with multiple meanings. Common N4 uses include 'to stick/be attached'.
Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!
Bilingual Context for "つく"
会社に8時に着きました。
I arrived at the company at 8 o'clock.
Bilingual Context for "付く"
壁にきれいな絵が付いています。
A beautiful picture is attached to the wall.

Kanji Selection Quiz

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "会社に8時に着きました。" (Meaning: "I arrived at the company at 8 o'clock.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "つく" is used for "to arrive; to reach" in the context: "I arrived at the company at 8 o'clock.".

💡 Practice with AI! Live

Don't just read. Practice speaking this grammar with our interactive AI coach for free!

Try AI Speaking 👉