Japanese symbol for “nudge”
突く
つつく
Romaji: tsutsuku
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge
In Japanese, nudge is 突く, read つつく (tsutsuku).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5k, vt to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge
- v5k, vt to peck at (one's food); to pick at
- v5k, vt to peck at (someone's faults, etc.)
- v5k, vt to egg on; to put up to
Written forms: 突く、突付く、突つく. Readings: つつく、ツツく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “nudge”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 突っ突く | つっつく tsuttsuku | to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 突然 | とつぜん totsuzen | abrupt; sudden; unexpected |
| 突破 | とっぱ toppa | breaking through; breakthrough; penetration |
| 衝突 | しょうとつ shoutotsu | collision; crash; impact |
| 突入 | とつにゅう totsunyuu | rushing into; breaking into; storming |
| 突如 | とつじょ totsujo | suddenly; all of a sudden; unexpectedly |
| 突き | つき tsuki | thrust; stab; lunge |
See also: Chinese symbol for “nudge”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.