To attach, stick, fasten, or affix something to another thing (including applying ointment); to join or append.
ポスターを壁にテープでつけた。
I taped the poster to the wall.
バッジを制服に縫い付けた。
I sewed the badge onto the uniform.
傷口に軟膏をつけてから包帯をした。
I put ointment on the wound and then bandaged it.
To furnish or equip a house/room (to install or have equipment or fittings).
新しいアパートにエアコンをつけた。
I had an air conditioner installed in the new apartment.
その部屋は家具がついているので引っ越しが楽だ。
The room comes furnished, so moving is easy.
To wear or put on accessories or items (e.g., watches, jewelry).
彼はいつもネクタイをつけている。
He always wears a tie.
指輪を左手の薬指に付けた。
She put a ring on her left ring finger.
新しい腕時計を手首に付けた。
I put my new watch on my wrist.
To keep a diary or make an entry; to record events or notes.
彼女は毎日簡単な日記をつけている。
She writes a short diary every day.
旅行中は出来事を細かくつけておいた。
During the trip I kept detailed notes of what happened.
忙しくても週に一度は日記をつけるようにしている。
Even when busy, I try to write in my diary at least once a week.
To appraise or set a price for something; to value or rate.
この商品には高めの値段をつけた。
I set a relatively high price for this product.
古い本に値段をつけてフリマに出した。
I priced the old books and put them up at the flea market.
To allot, budget, or assign resources such as funds or personnel.
来月の予算を各部署につけた。
I allocated next month's budget to each department.
会社は新人に先輩をつけた。
The company assigned a senior staff member to the new employee.
To bring something alongside (e.g., mooring a boat to the quay); to berth or tie up.
船を岸に付けて貨物を降ろした。
They brought the ship alongside the quay and unloaded the cargo.
ボートを湖の桟橋にしっかり付けてから降りた。
I tied the boat to the dock firmly before getting off.
To assign a guard, doctor, or other attendant to someone (to place under protection or care).
重体の患者に専任の医者をつけた。
They assigned a dedicated doctor to the critically ill patient.
その重要人物には警備をつける必要がある。
That important person needs to have security assigned to them.
To follow, shadow, or tail someone (to keep them under surveillance).
探偵は容疑者に尾行をつけていた。
The detective was tailing the suspect.
誰かに付けられている気がして、家に早く帰った。
I felt like someone was following me, so I went home early.
To load or place something on (e.g., cargo); to give someone courage or encouragement (to cheer up).
荷を船に付ける作業は朝から続いた。
The work of loading cargo onto the ship continued from the morning.
母の一言が私に元気をつけてくれた。
My mother's words gave me courage.
To keep an eye on something or someone; to watch or monitor closely.
上司はそのプロジェクトに目をつけている。
The boss is keeping an eye on that project.
彼はいつも会社の動向に目をつけている。
He always watches developments in the company.
To establish relations or reach an understanding; to come to terms with someone.
両者は妥協点をつけて交渉を終えた。
The two parties reached a compromise and ended negotiations.
隣人とは早めに折り合いをつけておいた方がいい。
It's better to come to terms with your neighbors early on.
To turn on a light or switch something on (e.g., a lamp, electricity).
部屋の電気をつけてください。
Please turn on the room light.
夜になると街灯が次々とつけられる。
Streetlights are turned on one after another at night.
寝る前に明かりをつけっぱなしにしないで。
Don't leave the light on before sleeping.
To bear flowers or fruit (of a plant to blossom or fruit).
この木は毎年たくさんの実をつける。
This tree bears a lot of fruit every year.
よく手入れすれば花をつけやすくなる。
With good care, it becomes easier for it to produce flowers.
As a suffix attached to a verb stem (after the -masu stem), it intensifies the action — to do something intensely or fiercely (e.g., 怒鳴りつける).
彼は酔っていて店員に怒鳴りつけた。
He was drunk and shouted fiercely at the clerk.
子供を押さえつけるのは簡単ではない。
It's not easy to hold the child down forcibly.
As a suffix attached to a verb stem (after the -masu stem), it means to be accustomed to doing something or to have a habit of doing it (e.g., 飲みつける, 食べつける).
彼は辛い料理を食べつけている。
He is used to eating spicy food.
彼は毎晩ウイスキーを飲みつけている。
He is in the habit of drinking whiskey every night.