吹く

ふく
JLPT:N5
Frequency:
1

To blow (of the wind); air or wind moving and hitting things.

U-VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

海から強い風が吹いている。

A strong wind is blowing from the sea.

窓を開けたら冷たい風が吹いてきた。

When I opened the window, a cold breeze blew in.

冬になると北風が激しく吹く。

In winter the north wind blows strongly.

2

To blow (one's breath); to breathe out — e.g. blowing on hot food, blowing out candles, or puffing.

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

熱いスープに息を吹いて冷ます。

Blow on the hot soup to cool it down.

彼女はロウソクを吹いて火を消した。

She blew out the candle.

赤ちゃんの頬にそっと息を吹く。

Gently blow on the baby's cheek.

3

To play a wind instrument or sound a whistle/trumpet — to blow into an instrument.

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

彼は休日にサックスを吹く。

He plays the saxophone on his days off.

小学校で子どもたちがリコーダーを吹いている。

Children at elementary school are playing recorders.

あのトランペット奏者は夜のライブでよく吹く。

That trumpet player often plays at night live shows.

4

To emit or spout (smoke, steam, fire, etc.) — to spew out or give off.

U-VerbTransitive VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

火山が黒い煙を吹いた。

The volcano emitted black smoke.

蒸気機関車は煙を勢いよく吹き上げながら走る。

The steam locomotive runs while forcefully spouting steam.

5

To sprout or put forth buds — used for plants producing new shoots.

U-VerbTransitive VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

春になって木の枝が芽を吹いた。

In spring the tree branches sprouted buds.

芽が吹き始めたので、もうすぐ花が咲くだろう。

Buds have begun to sprout, so the flowers will bloom soon.

6

To appear on a surface or become coated (e.g., powdery residue or rust forming on a surface).

U-VerbTransitive VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

古い陶器の表面に白い粉が吹いている。

A white powder has appeared on the surface of the old pottery.

冬は肌が乾燥して粉を吹くことがある。

In winter, skin can become dry and flake (literally 'blow powder').

7

Slang: to burst out laughing (to suddenly laugh aloud, unable to hold it in).

U-VerbIntransitive VerbSlang

Examples

そのコントに思わず吹いた。

I couldn't help laughing at that sketch.

教室で彼の一言に吹きそうになったが、必死でこらえた。

I almost burst out laughing at his remark in class, but I held it in with all my might.

8

To brag or talk big — to exaggerate one's own achievements or boast (colloquial usage).

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

彼は昨日の勝利について大げさに吹いていた。

He was boasting exaggeratedly about yesterday's victory.

実力以上に吹くのはやめたほうがいい。

You'd better stop bragging beyond your real ability.

9

To smelt or mint — an older or technical usage referring to processing molten metal or minting coins.

U-VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

かつてこの地域では銀を吹いて貨幣を作っていた。

In the past this region used to smelt silver to make coins.

Word Relationships

Antonym
Derivations
Masu-Form吹きます
Nai-Form吹かない
Ta-Form吹いた
Te-Form吹いて
Ba-Form吹けば
Volitional Form吹こう
Imperative Form吹け
Potential Form吹ける
Passive Form吹かれる
Causative Form吹かせる
Causative Passive Form吹かせられる