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JAPANESE VERB

だく

抱く

to hug, to hold in your arms

  • #268 most used
  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI hug
NegativeI don’t hug

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI hugged
NegativeI didn’t hug

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formhugging, and…
Doing now (て います)I am hugging
Please (て ください)please hug

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can hug
NegativeI can’t hug

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to hug
NegativeI don’t want to hug

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s hug

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I hug
  2. If, when (たら) if I hug

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) hug (do it)
  2. Plain command hug!
  3. Please don’t please don’t hug

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am hugged
CausativeI make someone hug

How to use だく

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    はは は あかちゃん を やさしく だきます。

    The mother holds her baby gently.

  2. Past

    くうこう で、 ひさしぶり に むすこ を だいた。

    At the airport I hugged my son for the first time in ages.

  3. Te-form

    ねこ を だいて、 テレビ を みて いる。

    I'm watching TV with the cat in my arms.

  4. Potential

    こし が いたくて、 まご を だけない。

    My back hurts and I can't pick up my grandchild.

  5. Want to

    うまれた ばかり の おい を、 はやく だきたい。

    I can't wait to hold my newborn nephew.

  6. Volitional

    こうたい で あかちゃん を だこう。

    Let's take turns holding the baby.

  7. Conditional

    だけば、 すぐ に なきやみます よ。

    If you pick him up, he'll stop crying right away.

  8. Commands and requests

    かたほう の て で だかないで。 あぶない。

    Don't hold her with one hand. It's dangerous.

  9. Passive and causative

    はは に だかれて、 あかちゃん が ねむった。

    Held by its mother, the baby fell asleep.

Good to know

  • だっこ する is the children's word: だっこ して, "carry me".

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).