打つ

• Reading: うつ
• Romaji: utsu
• Kanji breakdown: 打 (da/u) — strike, hit, knock
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.tsɯ/

Meaning

To hit; to strike; to type. A versatile verb used for physical hitting, typing on keyboards, and many figurative expressions.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb with an extremely wide range of uses: ボールを打つ (hit a ball), 手を打つ (clap hands / take measures), 釘を打つ (hammer a nail), キーボードを打つ (type on a keyboard), 注射を打つ (give an injection). One of the most versatile verbs in Japanese.

Examples

1. バッターがホームランを打った。 The batter hit a home run.
2. パソコンでレポートを打つのに二時間かかった。 It took me two hours to type the report on the computer.
3. インフルエンザの予防注射を打ってきた。 I went and got my flu shot.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, computing, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 打 combines 手 (hand) and 丁 (strike), representing the action of hitting with the hand.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal