掻き立てる

• Reading: かきたてる
• Romaji: kakitateru
• Kanji breakdown: 掻 (kou/ka) — scratch, stir (intensifier); 立 (ritsu/ta) — stand, raise, arouse
• Pronunciation: /ka.ki.ta.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To stir up; to arouse; to whip up (emotions, curiosity, or desire); to fan the flames of.

A Group 2 (ichidan) compound verb from the intensifying prefix 掻き- and 立てる (to raise up, to arouse). Conjugates as 掻き立て-ない, 掻き立て-ます. Primarily used for emotions, instincts, and passions being aroused or intensified. Common collocations include 好奇心を掻き立てる, 闘志を掻き立てる, and 怒りを掻き立てる.

Examples

1. 試合前の監督のスピーチが選手たちの闘志を掻き立てた。 The coach's pre-game speech stirred up the players' fighting spirit.
2. その映像は視聴者の強い怒りを掻き立て、大きな反響を呼んだ。 The footage aroused intense anger among viewers and drew a huge response.
3. 未知の文明の遺跡が研究者たちの好奇心を掻き立てている。 The ruins of an unknown civilization are stirring the curiosity of researchers.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, sport, journalism, rhetoric

Tone: energetic

Origin & History

Compound of 掻き- (kaki-, intensive prefix from 掻く, to scratch or scrape) and 立てる (tateru, to raise up, to arouse). Together they convey a forceful stirring up, like stoking embers into flame.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal