掻き消す

• Reading: かきけす
• Romaji: kakikesu
• Kanji breakdown: 掻 (kou/ka) — scratch, scrape (intensifier); 消 (shou/ke) — extinguish, erase, disappear
• Pronunciation: /ka.ki.ke.sɯ/

Meaning

To drown out (a sound); to wipe out; to extinguish completely; to cause something to vanish utterly.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb from the intensifying prefix 掻き- and 消す (to extinguish, to erase). Conjugates as 掻き消さ-ない, 掻き消し-ます. The transitive counterpart of 掻き消える. Used when an external force obliterates something — a sound drowned out by noise, a memory erased, or a trail covered.

Examples

1. 激しい雷鳴が彼の叫び声を完全に掻き消した。 A violent clap of thunder completely drowned out his screams.
2. 大雨が地面に残っていた足跡をすべて掻き消してしまった。 The heavy rain wiped out all the footprints left on the ground.
3. 爆音のような音楽がホール全体の会話を掻き消していた。 The deafening music drowned out every conversation in the hall.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, literature, journalism

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 掻き- (kaki-, intensive prefix from 掻く) and 消す (kesu, to extinguish, to erase). The transitive form of 掻き消える, implying an external agent actively causing total disappearance.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal