解く

• Reading: とく
• Romaji: toku
• Kanji breakdown: 解 (kai/ge/to) — unfasten, solve, dissolve
• Pronunciation: /to.kɯ/

Meaning

To unfasten; to untie; to solve (a problem); to answer (a question).

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugated with the く row (解かない, 解きます). Has two main meaning groups: physically untying (紐を解く, untie a string; 誤解を解く, clear up a misunderstanding) and intellectually solving (問題を解く, solve a problem; 謎を解く, solve a mystery). Also used for dissolving organizations (組織を解く) and lifting restrictions (禁止を解く).

Examples

1. 数学の問題を三十分で全部解いた。 I solved all the math problems in thirty minutes.
2. 靴の紐を解いてリラックスした。 I untied my shoelaces and relaxed.
3. 長年の誤解がやっと解けた。 A long-standing misunderstanding was finally cleared up.

Usage Guide

Context: education, daily life, problem-solving

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 解 combines 角 (horn) and 刀 (sword/knife) and 牛 (cow), originally depicting the act of cutting apart an animal with horns — separating or taking apart, extended to untying and solving.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal