接ぐ

• Reading: つぐ
• Romaji: tsugu
• Kanji breakdown: 接 (setsu/tsu) — join, touch, connect
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.ɡɯ/

Meaning

To join; to piece together; to set bones; to graft trees. Connecting separate pieces into one.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb. Used in specific technical contexts: 骨を接ぐ (to set a bone), 木を接ぐ (to graft a tree), 竹を接いで長くする (to join bamboo to make it longer). More specialised than つなぐ (to connect) and often implies craftsmanship. The kanji 接 emphasises physical joining of parts.

Examples

1. 折れた骨を接ぐために手術が必要だった。 Surgery was needed to set the broken bone.
2. 職人が壊れた花瓶の破片を丁寧に接いだ。 The craftsman carefully pieced together the fragments of the broken vase.
3. 果樹園で新しい品種を接いで育てている。 They are grafting new varieties and growing them in the orchard.

Usage Guide

Context: crafts, medical, agriculture

Tone: technical

Origin & History

From the kanji 接 (setsu, to touch/join). The native reading tsugu reflects the Old Japanese word for connecting pieces. Related to 接着 (setchaku, adhesion) and 接続 (setsuzoku, connection).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal