Meaning
The kanji 摘 primarily means "to pick," "to pluck," or "to nip." From these core physical actions, its meaning extends to more abstract ideas like "to point out," "to extract," or "to summarize." It often suggests a precise or deliberate action: either carefully taking something specific, typically small, or highlighting a particular detail. This kanji is vital for conveying selection, revelation, and concise representation in advanced Japanese.
Visually, 摘 is a phono-semantic compound. On the left is the radical 手, meaning "hand." This clearly indicates that the kanji's meaning involves an action performed with the hand, whether physically grasping something or gesturing. The right-hand component is 啻, which primarily serves as a phonetic component for the 'teki' reading. However, it also subtly hints at "only" or "just."
Combined, 手 and 啻 evoke an image of a precise hand action. It suggests selecting just a particular item, like picking a single flower, or pointing out just a specific error. This combination beautifully illustrates the careful, focused nature of its meanings.
This kanji has 14 strokes and is a Grade 8 kanji in the Japanese education system, meaning students learn it in junior high school. Its inclusion at the JLPT N1 level highlights its importance for a comprehensive understanding of advanced Japanese vocabulary.
Readings
The kanji 摘 has both On'yomi (Chinese-derived) and Kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings. Each is used in distinct contexts. To truly master this N1 kanji, understanding these readings and their applications is essential.
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi reading for 摘 is テキ (TEKI). You'll find this reading mostly in compound words, often carrying abstract or formal meanings related to extraction, specification, or exposure. The less common On'yomi reading, ジャク (JAKU), appears in very few, typically historical or specialized compounds.
テキ (TEKI): This is the most frequently encountered On'yomi.
摘出 (tekishutsu) — meaning "extraction" or "removal." This term is often used in medical contexts for surgical removal, or more broadly for extracting information or data.
腫瘍を摘出する (shuyō o tekishutsu suru) — to extract a tumor
摘発 (tekihatsu) — meaning "exposure," "disclosure," or "unearthing." This implies revealing a hidden crime, scandal, or malpractice to the public.
汚職を摘発する (oshoku o tekihatsu suru) — to expose corruption
指摘 (shiteki) — meaning "pointing out," "indication," or "calling attention to." This is a very common word in business, academic, and journalistic settings when offering feedback or criticism.
問題点を指摘する (mondaiten o shiteki suru) — to point out problems
摘要 (tekiyō) — meaning "summary" or "abstract." This refers to a brief statement of the main points of a report or document.
報告書の摘要 (hōkokusho no tekiyō) — an abstract of a report
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings are used when 摘 appears alone or with okurigana (送り仮名), typically as a verb. These readings refer to more direct, physical actions like picking or pinching.
つ.む (tsu.mu) — meaning "to pick," "to pluck," or "to gather (flowers, fruits, tea leaves)." This verb describes gentle, precise picking by hand, often from plants.
花を摘む (hana o tsumu) — to pick flowers
茶葉を摘む (chaba o tsumu) — to pluck tea leaves
若芽を摘む (wakame o tsumu) — to nip young buds
つま.む (tsuma.mu) — meaning "to pinch," "to pick up with fingers (often small things)," "to nip," or "to grasp (the gist)." This implies using one's fingers to pick up something tiny, or to quickly understand a concept or take a small bite of food.
塩を少し摘む (shio o sukoshi tsumamu) — to pinch a little salt
話の要点を摘む (hanashi no yōten o tsumamu) — to grasp the gist of a story
寿司を摘む (sushi o tsumamu) — to pick up sushi (with fingers/chopsticks)
Common Words & Compounds
摘 forms a wide array of compound words, showcasing its versatility. These range from literal actions like picking to abstract concepts such as pointing out or summarizing. Here are some key compounds, grouped by their themes:
Action-Related Compounds:
摘む (tsumu) — to pick, to pluck (e.g., flowers, leaves). This is the basic verb for harvesting or gathering delicate items.
摘まむ (tsumamu) — to pinch, to pick up with fingers, to grasp (e.g., salt, small items). This verb emphasizes fine motor control with the fingers.
摘み取る (tsumitoru) — to pick off, to pluck off, to sever by picking. This highlights the complete removal of something by hand.
摘採 (tekisai) — picking, plucking, harvesting (especially tea leaves or fruit). A more formal or technical term for the act of picking.
摘出 (tekishutsu) — extraction, removal (e.g., a tumor, data). Often used in medical, legal, or scientific contexts for physical removal or information retrieval.
摘発 (tekihatsu) — exposure, disclosure, unearthing (e.g., corruption, crimes, scandals). This implies bringing hidden wrongs or secrets to light.
Intellectual & Abstract Compounds:
指摘 (shiteki) — pointing out, indication, calling attention to. This is a very common word used when giving feedback, reviewing work, or offering critical analysis.
摘記 (tekki) — abstract, summary, concise note. This refers to writing down the essence or main points of something, like taking notes.
摘要 (tekiyō) — summary, abstract (of a document, speech). Similar to 摘記, but often refers to a brief overview or section of a larger work like a report.
摘読 (tekidoku) — excerpting and reading, reading selectively. This means reading only the parts considered important or relevant, skipping others.
Specific Contexts & Idioms:
若芽を摘む (wakame o tsumu) — idiomatically means "to nip in the bud," or "to destroy at an early stage." This uses the literal meaning of picking young buds to convey stopping something before it grows or develops further.
胃を摘出する (i o tekishutsu suru) — to remove the stomach (surgically). A direct medical application of 摘出.
These compounds demonstrate 摘's dual nature: it describes both physical acts of careful selection and removal, as well as mental processes like identifying, extracting, and focusing on essential details.
Example Sentences
庭で美しい花を摘みました。
Niwa de utsukushii hana o tsumimashita.
I picked beautiful flowers in the garden.
話の要点を摘んで説明してください。
Hanashi no yōten o tsumande setsumei shite kudasai.
Please explain by grasping the main points of the story.
警察は不正な行為を摘発しました。
Keisatsu wa fusei na kōi o tekihatsu shimashita.
The police exposed the illegal activities.
彼は会議中にいくつかの問題点を指摘した。
Kare wa kaigichū ni ikutsuka no mondaiten o shiteki shita.
He pointed out several problems during the meeting.
癌細胞が体から摘出されました。
Gansaibō ga karada kara tekishutsu saremashita.
The cancer cells were extracted from the body.
緑茶は手で丁寧に摘まれた茶葉から作られます。
Ryokucha wa te de teinei ni tsumareta chaba kara tsukuraremasu.
Green tea is made from tea leaves carefully hand-plucked.
専門家がレポートの改善点を指摘してくれた。
Senmonka ga repōto no kaizenten o shiteki shite kureta.
The expert pointed out areas for improvement in the report.
食卓の上に並べられた小皿の料理を摘んで食べた。
Shokutaku no ue ni naraberareta kozara no ryōri o tsumande tabeta.
I picked up and ate the small dishes arranged on the table.
彼女は議論の中で核心を摘むのが得意だ。
Kanojo wa giron no naka de kakushin o tsumu no ga tokui da.
She is good at grasping the core of an argument.
Memory Tip
To remember 摘, focus on its components: the left side is 手 (hand), clearly indicating a hand action. The right side, 啻, while mostly phonetic, can subtly represent "just" or "only." Imagine your hand precisely picking just one specific thing, like a single tea leaf from a bush. Or, think of pointing out just one particular error in a document. This image of a focused, precise hand action—whether it's selecting a small object or singling out a specific detail—directly connects to the kanji's meanings of "to pick," "to pluck," and "to point out." Your hand is doing just enough to carefully select or highlight.