拾う

• Reading: ひろう
• Romaji: hirou
• Kanji breakdown: 拾 (shuu/hiro) — pick up, gather; hand radical (扌) + 合 (join)
• Pronunciation: /çi.ɾo.ɯ/

Meaning

To pick up; to gather. Used when retrieving something from the ground or collecting scattered items.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the う row (拾わない, 拾います, 拾った). Commonly used for picking up dropped objects, finding things on the ground, or hailing a taxi (タクシーを拾う). The transitive partner implies deliberate action.

Examples

1. 道でお金を拾いました。 I found some money on the street.
2. ゴミを拾ってください。 Please pick up the trash.
3. 駅の前でタクシーを拾った。 I hailed a taxi in front of the station.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, outdoors, transportation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 拾 combines the hand radical (扌) with 合 (to join/gather), conveying the idea of bringing things together by hand — the fundamental act of picking up.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal