This article will simply explain the difference between 付く (tsuku) (something attaches) and 付ける (tsukeru) (someone attaches something).
Usage Explanation ①: 付ける (tsukeru) – “To attach” or “To turn on” (Transitive)
First, let’s look at 付ける (tsukeru). This is a **transitive verb (他動詞 – tadoushi)**.
A transitive verb describes an action that a *person* (the subject) does *to* something (the object). The core meaning is “to attach.”
The key particle is を (o). The pattern is: [Person] が [Thing] を 付ける。
- Example 1: (To turn on)
- 私（わたし）が、電気（でんき）を 付ける。(Watashi ga, denki o tsukeru.)
I turn on the light. (I “attach” the electricity.)
- Example 2: (To attach)
- 切手（きって）を 付けてください。(Kitte o tsukete kudasai.)
Please attach the stamp.
- Example 3: (To put on an accessory)
- 彼女（かのじょ）は、マスクを 付けている。(Kanojo wa, masuku o tsukete iru.)
She is wearing a mask. (She has “attached” the mask.)
Key Point: Use 付ける (tsukeru) when a person is doing the action of “attaching” or “turning on.” The focus is on the *person* doing the action *to* the thing.
Usage Explanation ②: 付く (tsuku) – “To be attached” or “To be on” (Intransitive)
Now, let’s look at 付く (tsuku). This is an **intransitive verb (自動詞 – jidoushi)**.
An intransitive verb describes an action that happens *by itself*. The thing (like a light) is the subject, and it does the action.
The key particle is が (ga). The pattern is: [Thing] が 付く。
- Example 1: (To be on)
- あ、電気（でんき）が 付いた。(A, denki ga tsuita.)
Oh, the light turned on. (The electricity “attached”.)
- Example 2: (To be attached)
- シャツに、ソースが 付いている。(Shatsu ni, sōsu ga tsuite iru.)
There is sauce on my shirt. (The sauce “is attached” to the shirt.)
- Example 3: (To come with)
- このホテルは、朝食（ちょうしょく）が 付きます。(Kono hoteru wa, chōshoku ga tsukimasu.)
This hotel comes with breakfast. (Breakfast “is attached”.)
Key Point: Use 付く (tsuku) when you want to describe the *state* or *result*. The focus is on the *thing* (the light, the sauce) and what happened to it.
Comparison: 付ける (tsukeru) vs 付く (tsuku)
Let’s look at the difference side-by-side, focusing on the most common meaning: “to turn on.”
| Feature | 付ける (tsukeru) | 付く (tsuku) |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | tsu-ke-ru | tsu-ku |
| Verb Type | Transitive (他動詞) | Intransitive (自動詞) |
| Meaning | “Someone turns on (something)” | “Something turns on” |
| Focus | The Person (I, You, He) | The Thing (Light, TV) |
| Key Particle | [Thing] を (o) | [Thing] が (ga) |
| Example Sentence | 私（わたし）が電気（でんき）を 付ける。 (I turn on the light.) |
電気（でんき）が 付く。 (The light turns on.) |
Common Mistake Examples
Mistake 1: Asking someone to turn on the TV
- Wrong:
- テレビが 付けてください。(Terebi ga tsukete kudasai.)
- Correct:
- テレビを 付けてください。(Terebi o tsukete kudasai.)
- Why?
- You are asking a *person* to do an action *to* the TV (the object). You must use the transitive verb 付ける (tsukeru) and the object particle を (o).
Mistake 2: Describing the state of the light
- Wrong:
- あ、電気（でんき）を 付いています。(A, denki o tsuite imasu.)
- Correct:
- あ、電気（でんき）が 付いています。(A, denki ga tsuite imasu.)
- Why?
- You are describing the *state* of the light (“the light is on”). The light is the subject. You must use the intransitive verb 付く (tsuku) (in its -te iru form) and the particle が (ga).
Practice Quiz
Let’s check your understanding! Choose the correct word for ( ).
Q1.
寒（さむ）いですから、エアコン ______ ください。
It’s cold, so please ______ the heater.
- を 付けて (o tsukete)
- が 付いて (ga tsuite)
Q2.
「あれ？テレビ ______ よ。」「あ、ごめん。消（け）し忘（わす）れた。」
“Huh? The TV ______ .” “Oh, sorry. I forgot to turn it off.”
- を 付けている (o tsukete iru)
- が 付いている (ga tsuite iru)
Q3.
服（ふく）に、ごはんつぶ ______ しまった。
A grain of rice ______ my clothes.
- を 付けて (o tsukete)
- が 付いて (ga tsuite)
Quiz Answers
Q1. (a) を 付けて (o tsukete) – “Please turn on the heater.” You are asking a person to do the action *to* the heater. (Transitive)
Q2. (b) が 付いている (ga tsuite iru) – “The TV is on.” You are describing the *state* of the TV. (Intransitive)
Q3. (b) が 付いて (ga tsuite) – “A grain of rice got stuck…” The rice is the subject that “attached” to the clothes. (Intransitive)
Summary: Key Differences
How did you do on the quiz? This rule is very powerful for understanding Japanese particles.
- 付く (tsuku) (Intransitive – 自動詞):
Something attaches / turns on. The thing is the subject.Particle: が (ga)Example: 電気（でんき）が 付く。(The light turns on.) - 付ける (tsukeru) (Transitive – 他動詞):
Someone attaches / turns on something. A person is the subject.Particle: を (o)Example: 私（わたし）が電気（でんき）を 付ける。(I turn on the light.)
Remember this simple pair: The light **が** 付く (The light is on). I **を** 付ける (I turn it on).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q1: What is the simple difference between 付ける (tsukeru) and 付く (tsuku)?
- A1: The simple difference is in the particle and who (or what) is doing the action.
- 付く (tsuku) is intransitive. The *thing* is the subject. It attaches by itself. (電気が付く – The light is on.)
- 付ける (tsukeru) is transitive. A *person* is the subject who does the action *to* the thing. (私が電気を付ける – *I* turn on the light.)
- Q2: What is the opposite pair for “turn off”?
- A2: Great question! It follows the exact same pattern.
- 消える (kieru) is intransitive: 電気が 消える。 (The light goes off.)
- 消す (kesu) is transitive: 電気を 消す。 (I turn off the light.)
- Q3: Does 付ける (tsukeru) have many meanings?
- A3: Yes, it’s a very common verb. The core meaning is “to attach.” From there, it can mean “to turn on” (attach electricity), “to put on” (attach an accessory), “to apply” (attach medicine), or even “to name” (attach a name).
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