つく

be able to imagine, get an idea, get in touch, make contact, tell lies

→ 付く
verb · informal Common #7,148
be able to imagine, get an idea Often used in expressions such as 想像がつく (be able to imagine) and 見当がつく (get an idea).
JA: その理由はだいたい想像がつく。
EN: I can pretty much imagine the reason.
get in touch, make contact Often used in the expression 連絡がつく.
JA: 彼とはすぐ連絡がつく。
EN: I can get in touch with him right away.
Conjugation of 付く

取り返しつく気がしない

I feel like there's no going back.

— 映画 聲の形 (2016)

トムと連絡はつくの?

Can you get in touch with Tom?

この一週間息つく暇もないほど忙しかった。

I've been so busy this past week that I haven't had a moment to breathe.

どういう気持ちだったか、想像はつくよ。

I can imagine how you must have felt.

一番よいものを買うのが結局は安くつく。

In the end, buying the best one is the cheapest option.

確かに車は便利だが、結局高いものにつく。

Cars are certainly convenient, but they end up costing you a lot in the long run.

その煙が彼女につくのは嫌なの

I don't want that smoke getting on her.

— 罪人たち (2025)

想像つくよ。

I can imagine.

どんな友達か見当つくわ

I can tell what kind of friend they are.

— 鏡 (1975)

先に行って後ろにつく?

Should I go ahead and meet you there?

— パディントン2 (2017)

彼は床につくや否や、眠ってしまった。

No sooner had he gone to bed than he fell asleep.

都合つく?

Can you make time?

トムと連絡つく?

Can you get in touch with Tom?

光はつくのにまだ濡れてるんだろう

The light comes on, but I guess it’s still wet.

— ファニーゲーム (1997)

火がつくとすぐに、その化学工場は爆発した。

As soon as it caught fire, the chemical plant exploded.

悪い習慣はひどく簡単につくものだ。

Bad habits are terribly easy to form.

この職にボッピからつくのは初めてだ

This is my first time taking this job through Boppi.

— エリート・スクワッド ブラジル特殊部隊BOPE (2010)

すっかり身につくまで台詞を練習するわ

I’ll practice my lines until I’ve completely mastered them.

— マルホランド・ドライブ (2001)

よくも平気で嘘ばかりついて真実と見分けがつかないあなたにはつく?

How can you lie so shamelessly that it’s impossible to tell your lies from the truth? Can you tell the difference?

— 8 1/2 (1963)

想像はつく

I can imagine.

— マルコムX (1992)

バスで行った方が安くつく。

It’s cheaper to go by bus.

それが目的ならもっと安くつくぜ

If that's the goal, it'll cost you a lot less.

— 荒野の用心棒 (1964)

映画館で立ち上がり――“火事だ逃げろ!”と叫んだら――人の目につく

If you stand up in a movie theater and shout, “Fire! Get out!” you’ll draw people’s attention.

— シカゴ (2002)

家族手当と特別手当もつく

It also comes with family and special allowances.

— 自転車泥棒 (1948)

ガスはつくかなつけ!

I wonder if the gas will light. Turn it on!

— 崖の上のポニョ (2008)

細かいことは、あなたとカットで都合のつくときに話し合って。

Discuss the details with Kat when you’re both available.

悪い習慣はいったん身につくと、抜け出すのが難しいことがある。

Once bad habits take hold, they can be difficult to break.

私にだって善悪に区別はつく。

I can tell right from wrong too.

verb · present tense Uncommon #14,606
tell lies, lie Used in the expression 嘘をつく (to tell a lie).
JA: 彼はよく嘘をつく。
EN: He often lies.
cost In 高くつく, means to end up costing a lot or more than expected.
JA: 急いで直すと、かえって高くつく。
EN: If you rush the repair, it will end up costing more.
go to bed Often used in the expression 床につく.
JA: 今日は早く床につく。
EN: I’ll go to bed early today.
Conjugation of つく
Present
つく

彼は嘘なんかつく人じゃない。

He's not the kind of person who would lie.

なんでこんなわかりやすいウソつくんだろ?

Why would they tell such an obvious lie?

森の中で、彼らは気がつくと危険が迫っていた。

In the forest, they suddenly realized that danger was closing in.

床につくとすぐに電話が鳴った。

As soon as I went to bed, the phone rang.

あいつは俺にいつも嘘ばっかりつく。

That guy is always lying to me.

彼は決してうそなどつく人ではない。

He is not the kind of person who would ever tell a lie.

彼らはときどき何年も眠りにつく

They sometimes fall asleep for years at a time.

— コーカサスの虜 (1996)

弱いからこそウソもつく

It’s precisely because they’re weak that they lie, too.

— 羅生門 (1950)

つくよ

I'll be there.

— 千と千尋の神隠し (2001)

彼は嘘なんかつく人ではない。

He isn't the kind of person who would lie.

二か月で現金が底をつく

I'll run out of cash in two months.

— 罪人たち (2025)

日本で暮らすのは高くつく。

Living in Japan is expensive.

それで説明がつく。

That explains it.

彼は善悪の区別がつく年齢になっている。

He is old enough to know right from wrong.

このコンピューターは、長い目で見れば高くつく。

This computer will be costly in the long run.

verb · informal Rare #27,029
arrive, reach
JA: 駅に何時につく?
EN: What time will you arrive at the station?
Conjugation of 着く
Past
Present
着いてつく
Conditional
Indicative present
Indicative

空港につくとすぐに彼は妻に電話した。

As soon as he arrived at the airport, he called his wife.

駅へつくとすぐ、私は叔父をその事務所に訪ねた。

As soon as I arrived at the station, I went to see my uncle at his office.

そこにつくとすぐに彼は彼女に会いに行った。

As soon as he arrived there, he went to see her.

彼が駅につくやいなや、雨が降り出した。

As soon as he arrived at the station, it started to rain.

彼は明日パリにつくでしょう。

He will arrive in Paris tomorrow.

このバスに乗るとその村につくでしょう。

If you take this bus, you'll get to that village.