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Word 307 of 1691

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撫でる

なでる

to stroke, pat

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 猫の頭を撫でた。

    ねこのあたまをなでた。

    I stroked the cat's head.

  2. 犬を優しく撫でる。

    いぬをやさしくなでる。

    I pet the dog gently.

  3. 子供の頭を撫でて褒めた。

    こどものあたまをなでてほめた。

    I patted the child's head and praised her.

  4. うちの猫は撫でられるのが好きだ。

    うちのねこはなでられるのがすきだ。

    Our cat likes being stroked.

Common patterns

頭を撫でる
to pat someone's head
猫を撫でる
to stroke a cat
優しく撫でる
to stroke gently

Memory tip

This is a flat hand sliding along a surface — a pet's back, a child's head — not just contact, which is 触る. It is written in kana as なでる at least as often as with the kanji.

Kanji in this word

  • 撫Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

What does 撫でる mean?