Translation and Meaning of: 轢く - hiku

The Japanese word 「轢く」 (hiku) is a term that has a somewhat dark but essential meaning in the Japanese language. This verb is used to describe the act of running over something or someone, especially when related to vehicles. The etymology of the word traces back to the kanji 「轢」, which by itself already conveys an idea of crushing or running over. The kanji 「轢」 is composed of two radicals: the part「車」 (sha), which means "car" or "vehicle," and the part 「歴」 (reki), which means "to go through," "to cross." This combination of ideograms clearly points to the context of something "passing" over a vehicle.

The use of the word 「轢く」 is quite restricted and specific, as it is employed exclusively in situations involving the physical act of running over. This differs from other Japanese verbs that can have multiple meanings or uses depending on the context. For example, "to run over" in a figurative sense – such as "to run over ideas" – would not use 「轢く」, but rather other verbs that fit better in non-literal contexts.

It is interesting to note that this verb is frequently learned by Japanese students at intermediate or advanced levels, as it involves a less common kanji that is rarely found in daily life. Despite this, it is a crucial word for those living in Japanese-speaking countries, as it is important in everyday contexts such as accident news or traffic regulations. Furthermore, traffic safety is a major concern in Japanese society, which makes people aware of this term.

There are variations in usage that adapted the word to other contexts, such as in idiomatic or literary expressions, but always maintaining its basic meaning of crossing/dribbling something or someone. The difficulty of learning such a term can be seen as a reflection of the richness and complexity of the Japanese language, which intricately combines visual form and meaning. Learning “轢く” is not just about knowing a term, but also understanding Japan's cultural and linguistic sensitivity regarding events like traffic accidents.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 轢き殺す (hikikarosu) - Run over and kill.
• ひき殺す (hikikasu) - Run over and kill.
• ひきずる (hikizuru) - Drag.
• ひく (hiku) - Hit or pull.
• ひきこもる (hikikomoru) - Isolate oneself; withdraw from society.
• ひきつける (hikitsukeru) - Attract or draw attention.
• ひきこもり (hikikomori) - Isolation; a person who isolates themselves.
• ひきこもり生活 (hikikomori seikatsu) - Life of isolation.
• ひきこもり生活する (hikikomori seikatsu suru) - Living in isolation.
• ひきこもり生活をする (hikikomori seikatsu o suru) - Live a life of isolation.
• ひきこもり生活を送る (hikikomori seikatsu o okuru) - Lead a life of isolation.
• ひきこもり生活する人 (hikikomori seikatsu suru hito) - Person who lives in isolation.
• ひきこもり生活をしている人 (hikikomori seikatsu o shiteiru hito) - Person living in isolation.
• ひきこもり生活を送っている人 (hikikomori seikatsu o okutteiru hito) - Person who is leading a life of isolation.
• ひきこもり生活をしている人たち (hikikomori seikatsu o shiteiru hitotachi) - Group of people living in isolation.
• ひきこもり生活を送っている人たち (hikikomori seikatsu o okutteiru hitotachi) - Group of people who are leading a life of isolation.

轢く

Romaji: hiku
Kana: ひく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: to cross someone (with vehicle); knock out

Meaning in English: to run somebody over (with vehicle);to knock someone down

Definition: Hit pedestrians, cars, etc.

Example Sentences - (轢く) hiku

See below some example sentences:

彼は車を運転中に猫を轢いてしまった。

Kare wa kuruma o untenchuu ni neko o hikikatte shimatta

He ran over a cat while driving.

He ran over a cat while driving a car.

• 彼 - pronoun that means "he"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "he"
• 車 - noun that means "car"
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "car"
• 運転中 - compound noun that means "during driving"
• に - particle indicating the moment when the action took place, in this case, "during the driving"
• 猫 - noun that means "cat"
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "cat"
• 轢いてしまった - compound verb that means "ran over/accidentally ran over"