B1 verb #6,000 am häufigsten 7 Min. Lesezeit

つまむ

tsumamu

When you want to say “to pick something up with your fingers” or “to snack on something,” the Japanese verb you’re looking for is つまむ (tsumamu).

Imagine you're picking up a small piece of food with your chopsticks or fingers – that's つまむ. You might also use it when you're having a little snack between meals.

For example, you could say something like: 「お菓子をお母さんがつまみました」 (Okashi o okaasan ga tsumamimashita) meaning “My mom snacked on some sweets.”

Another example: 「箸で豆をつまみます」 (Hashi de mame o tsumamimasu) which means “I pick up beans with chopsticks.”

When you're learning Japanese, you'll find words like つまむ (tsumamu) that have a couple of meanings, which is pretty common! This verb can mean 'to pick up with your fingers,' like when you're grabbing a small piece of food. Imagine picking up a single fry or a piece of candy with your fingertips.

It can also mean 'to snack on' or 'to nibble.' So, if you're eating small bites of something, not a full meal, you might use つまむ. Think of it like having a little munch on something. It's a handy word for describing those small, informal eating actions.

When you want to say “to pick something up with your fingers” or “to snack on something,” the Japanese verb to use is つまむ (tsumamu).

For example, if you’re at a party and you want to say that you’re “just picking at the food,” you would use つまむ. Or, if you’re having a light snack between meals, you could also use つまむ to describe that action.

It implies a small amount or a light touch, perfect for describing those little nibbles throughout the day.

When you hear つまむ (tsumamu), think about using your fingers to pick something small up. It's often used when talking about food, like picking up a piece of sushi or a small snack. It can also refer to snacking in general, meaning to eat a little bit of food between meals. The nuance is often about taking a small amount or eating something quickly and informally.

When you hear つまむ (tsumamu), think about using your fingers to pick something small up. It's often used when you're taking a pinch of something, like salt, or picking up a small snack. It implies a delicate, finger-tip action, rather than grabbing a whole handful. You might also hear it in the context of eating a small snack or a light meal, something you can just 'pick at'.

つまむ in 30 Sekunden

  • pick up with fingers
  • snack lightly
  • grab a small item

The Japanese verb つまむ (tsumamu) is pretty common. You'll hear it and see it a lot, so it's good to get a handle on it early. It usually means 'to pick up with fingers,' but it also means 'to pinch' or 'to snack on.' Knowing when to use each meaning makes your Japanese sound much more natural. Let's break down how people use つまむ in everyday conversations.

§ Basic Meaning: Picking Up with Fingers

The most direct meaning of つまむ is using your fingers to pick up something small. Think about how you'd pick up a piece of food with chopsticks, or a small item with your fingertips. It implies a delicate, precise action. It's not about grabbing a whole handful of something; it's about taking just a small portion.

Definition
To pick up or hold something small with your fingers or a tool like chopsticks.

箸で豆をつまむのは難しい。

Hashi de mame o tsumamu no wa muzukashii.
(It's difficult to pick up beans with chopsticks.)

彼女は指で塩を少しつまんだ

Kanojo wa yubi de shio o sukoshi tsumanda.
(She picked up a little salt with her fingers.)

§ Meaning Two: Pinching

Another common use for つまむ is 'to pinch.' This can be literally pinching someone's cheek, or pinching a piece of fabric. The idea of using fingers to grasp something small is still there, but with the added nuance of applying pressure.

Definition
To grasp or squeeze something between two fingers; to pinch.

彼は私の腕を軽くつまんだ

Kare wa watashi no ude o karuku tsumanda.
(He lightly pinched my arm.)

スカートの裾をつまんでみた。

Sukaato no suso o tsumande mita.
(I tried pinching the hem of the skirt.)

§ Meaning Three: Snacking

This is where つまむ gets a bit more idiomatic. When you use つまむ with food, it often means to 'snack on' or 'nibble at' something, usually small items like snacks, appetizers, or finger foods. It's not a full meal; it's just a little something to tide you over or enjoy with a drink.

Definition
To eat a small amount of food, often snacks or appetizers; to nibble or snack on.

ビールを飲みながらピーナッツをつまむ

Biiru o nominagara piinattsu o tsumamu.
(To snack on peanuts while drinking beer.)

何か軽くつまむものはありませんか?

Nanika karuku tsumamu mono wa arimasen ka?
(Isn't there something light to snack on? / Do you have any light snacks?)

§ Putting it all together

So, while the core idea of つまむ is about using your fingers in a specific way, the context changes the nuance. Here are some key points to remember:

  • It's about small actions: Picking up tiny objects, pinching a small part, or eating small portions of food.
  • It often implies using fingers, chopsticks, or similar small tools.
  • With food, it's about casual snacking, not a big meal.

By paying attention to what's being picked up, pinched, or eaten, you can usually figure out which meaning of つまむ is being used. Practice using it in these different contexts to make it feel natural. You'll sound more like a native speaker once you master these subtle differences.

§ Understanding つまむ: Pick up or Snack

The verb つまむ (tsumamu) is a versatile word in Japanese, and you'll hear it in many different contexts. At its core, it means to pick something up with your fingers, often something small. Think about how you'd pick up a piece of food, or a small object. It can also refer to the act of 'snacking' or 'nibbling' on something.

Definition
Tsumamu, to pick up with fingers; to snack on.

§ つまむ in the Workplace

In a work setting, you might hear つまむ in a few ways, especially if it involves small items or shared food.

  • Picking up small items: If you're working with small components or papers, someone might ask you to 'つまむ' them.
  • Grabbing a quick bite: During a busy workday, you might hear a colleague say they're going to 'つまむ' something light for lunch, meaning they'll grab a quick snack or a small meal.

書類をつまんで会議室に持ってきてください。
(Please pick up the documents and bring them to the meeting room.)

休憩時間に軽く何かつまみませんか?
(Would you like to snack on something light during the break?)

§ つまむ at School and Social Gatherings

In a school environment or when socializing, つまむ usually refers to food. It's common to offer or share snacks this way.

  • Sharing snacks: If there are snacks available, someone might invite you to 'つまむ' them.
  • Casual eating: It describes the informal act of nibbling on something without a formal meal setup.

パーティーで美味しいお菓子をつまんでいました。
(I was snacking on delicious sweets at the party.)

みんなでポテトチップスをつまんだ
(Everyone nibbled on potato chips together.)

§ つまむ in the News and Media

While 'つまむ' might not appear frequently in formal news articles, you might encounter it in lifestyle sections, interviews, or casual reports where food or small actions are discussed.

  • Describing casual eating: News about events or festivals might mention people 'つまむ' local delicacies.
  • Figurative use: Occasionally, you might hear a more figurative use, like '話のつまみ' (hanashi no tsumami), which refers to a small topic or point to discuss, something you 'pick up' from a conversation. This is less common and more advanced.

祭りで屋台の食べ物をつまんで歩いた。
(I snacked on street food while walking at the festival.)

§ Don't confuse つまむ with 掴む (tsukamu) or 摘む (tsumu)

Many learners get confused between つまむ (tsumamu), 掴む (tsukamu), and 摘む (tsumu) because all three can involve some form of 'grabbing' or 'picking.' However, their nuances are quite distinct. Let's break it down.

DEFINITION
つまむ (tsumamu) means to pick up something small with your fingers, often involving a pinching motion. It can also mean to snack on something light.
DEFINITION
掴む (tsukamu) means to grab, seize, or grasp something firmly with your hand or hands. It implies a stronger, more complete hold.
DEFINITION
摘む (tsumu) means to pluck or pick (flowers, leaves, etc.), or to nip something in the bud. It often refers to harvesting or preventing something from growing/developing.

The key difference lies in the action and what is being acted upon:

  • つまむ: light, delicate, using fingers, usually for small items or snacking.
  • 掴む: firm, strong, using the whole hand, for a more secure grip.
  • 摘む: precise, often for harvesting or stopping growth.

§ Incorrectly using つまむ for grabbing larger items

A common mistake is using つまむ when you mean to grab something larger or with a full hand. For instance, if you want to say 'grab a pen,' つまむ would sound unnatural.

ペンを掴む。(grab a pen)

Here, 掴む is the correct choice because you're taking a firm hold of the pen with your hand, not delicately pinching it.

ペンをつまむ。(pinch a pen - sounds odd if you mean to pick it up normally)

While you *could* pinch a pen, it's not the usual way to pick one up. The nuance of つまむ suggests a smaller, more delicate object, or a light, casual picking.

§ Misunderstanding the 'snack on' meaning

Another common pitfall is not realizing that つまむ can also mean to 'snack on' or 'eat a light meal.' This usage is idiomatic and doesn't directly translate to 'picking up with fingers' in English, although the underlying action of picking small bits of food with fingers is still implied.

何か軽くつまむものが欲しい。(I want something light to snack on.)

In this context, using 'pick up with fingers' literally wouldn't make sense. It's about the act of eating small portions of food casually.

§ Using つまむ for 'plucking' flowers or hair

While both つまむ and 摘む involve a pinching motion, 摘む is specifically used for plucking things like flowers, leaves, or even hair. Using つまむ in these situations would be incorrect.

花を摘む。(pluck a flower)

If you said 花をつまむ, it might sound like you're just lightly pinching the flower, not actually plucking it off.

§ Summary of common errors

To avoid mistakes with つまむ, remember:

  • Use つまむ for small, delicate items picked with fingertips, or for snacking.
  • Use 掴む for grabbing something firmly with your hand.
  • Use 摘む for plucking things like flowers or leaves.

Paying attention to the context and the specific action involved will help you choose the right verb every time. Practice these distinctions, and you'll master つまむ in no time!

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"箸で小さな料理をつまんでください。(Hashi de chiisana ryōri o tsumande kudasai.) - Please pick up the small dish with chopsticks."

Neutral

"お菓子をちょっとつまんで食べました。(Okashi o chotto tsumande tabemashita.) - I picked up and ate a little snack."

Informell

"なんかちょっとつまむものない?(Nanka chotto tsumamu mono nai?) - Got anything to snack on?"

Child friendly

"ママ、このお豆さん、つまんでいい?(Mama, kono omame-san, tsumande ii?) - Mommy, can I pick up these beans?"

Umgangssprache

"今日の飲み会でなんか美味いつまめるものあった?(Kyō no nomikai de nanka umai tsumameru mono atta?) - Was there anything good to snack on at today's drinking party?"

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈtsuːmɑːmuː/
US /ˈtsuːmɑːmuː/
short
Reimt sich auf
mamu hamu samu
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing the 'tsu' as a hard 't' instead of a soft 'ts' sound.
  • Elongating the 'u' sounds, as they are short vowels.

Wichtige Grammatik

When referring to picking up a small object with your fingers, use the particle 「を」 after the object.

箸で豆を**つまむ**のが難しい。 (It's difficult to pick up beans with chopsticks.)

When talking about eating a small snack, use 「を」 after the snack.

ちょっとお菓子を**つまむ**。 (I'll have a little snack.)

When 「つまむ」 is used with an indirect object (e.g., someone's nose), use the particle 「を」 after the object.

彼が彼女の鼻を**つまんだ**。 (He pinched her nose.)

When you want to express pinching or holding something between two surfaces, you can use the structure 「〜と〜でつまむ」.

指と指で紙を**つまむ**。 (To pick up paper between your fingers.)

「つまむ」 can also be used figuratively to mean to briefly mention or summarize something, often with the particle 「に」 or 「を」.

話の要点を**つまんで**話す。 (To briefly mention the main points of the story.)

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

パンをつまんで食べた。

I picked up the bread and ate it.

Verb: つまむ (to pick up) + Past tense: ~て食べた (and ate).

2

お菓子をつまんでください。

Please snack on the sweets.

Verb: つまむ (to snack on) + Request: ~てください (please do).

3

指で小さいものをつまむ。

Pick up small things with your fingers.

Noun: 指 (finger) + Particle: で (with) + Noun: 小さいもの (small things) + Verb: つまむ (to pick up).

4

ご飯をつまむ。

To have a light meal (snack on rice).

Noun: ご飯 (rice/meal) + Verb: つまむ (to snack on).

5

塩を少しつまむ。

Pinch a little salt.

Noun: 塩 (salt) + Particle: を + Adjective: 少し (a little) + Verb: つまむ (to pinch).

6

箸でつまむ。

Pick up with chopsticks.

Noun: 箸 (chopsticks) + Particle: で (with) + Verb: つまむ (to pick up).

7

子供がお菓子をつまんでいる。

The child is snacking on sweets.

Noun: 子供 (child) + Particle: が + Noun: お菓子 (sweets) + Verb: つまむ (to snack on) + Progressive form: ~ている (is doing).

8

パン屋でパンをつまむ。

Grab a quick bite (bread) at the bakery.

Noun: パン屋 (bakery) + Particle: で (at) + Noun: パン (bread) + Verb: つまむ (to pick up/snack on).

1

箸で豆をつまんでください。

Please pick up the beans with chopsticks.

箸 (はし) - chopsticks; 豆 (まめ) - beans; てください - please do

2

指でパンくずをつまむ。

To pick up breadcrumbs with fingers.

指 (ゆび) - finger; パンくず - breadcrumbs

3

ちょっとお菓子をつまむ?

Want to snack on some sweets?

ちょっと - a little; お菓子 (おかし) - sweets, snacks

4

彼はおにぎりをつまんだ。

He snacked on an onigiri.

彼 (かれ) - he; おにぎり - rice ball

5

鳥が餌をつまむ。

A bird picks up bait.

鳥 (とり) - bird; 餌 (えさ) - bait, food

6

彼女は指で小さな石をつまんだ。

She picked up a small stone with her fingers.

彼女 (かのじょ) - she; 小さな (ちいさな) - small; 石 (いし) - stone

7

会議中にお菓子をつまむ人がいる。

There are people who snack on sweets during meetings.

会議中 (かいぎちゅう) - during a meeting; 人 (ひと) - person

8

お弁当のおかずをつまむ。

To pick at the side dishes of a bento.

お弁当 (おべんとう) - bento box; おかず - side dish

1

箸で豆をつまんでください。

Please pick up the beans with chopsticks.

箸 (はし) - chopsticks; 豆 (まめ) - beans; で - particle indicating means/instrument

2

彼は指で塩をつまんだ。

He pinched salt with his fingers.

彼 (かれ) - he; 指 (ゆび) - finger; 塩 (しお) - salt; を - direct object particle

3

小腹が空いたので、お菓子をつまんだ。

I was a little hungry, so I snacked on some sweets.

小腹が空く (こばらがすく) - to be a little hungry; お菓子 (おかし) - sweets/snacks; ので - because/so

4

彼女はいつも何かをつまんでいる。

She's always snacking on something.

彼女 (かのじょ) - she; いつも - always; 何か (なにか) - something

5

パンの耳をつまんで食べた。

I picked off and ate the crusts of the bread.

パンの耳 (パンの みみ) - bread crust; て - connecting form of verb

6

つまんで食べるのにちょうどいいサイズ。

It's the perfect size for picking up and eating.

〜のにちょうどいい - just right for doing ~; サイズ - size

7

おつまみに枝豆はいかがですか?

How about edamame as a snack (to go with drinks)?

おつまみ - snack (often with drinks); 枝豆 (えだまめ) - edamame; いかがですか - how about?

8

ポケットから小銭をつまみ出した。

I pulled out some change from my pocket.

ポケット - pocket; 小銭 (こぜに) - small change; 〜出す (だす) - to take out/pull out

1

彼は箸で寿司をつまんだ。

He picked up the sushi with chopsticks.

Here, 'つまむ' is used with chopsticks, indicating picking up something small.

2

小腹が空いたので、クッキーをつまんだ。

I was a little hungry, so I snacked on some cookies.

'つまむ' can mean to snack or nibble on something.

3

彼女は彼の腕をそっとつまんで注意を引いた。

She gently pinched his arm to get his attention.

In this context, 'つまむ' means to pinch lightly.

4

部長は会議で重要な点をいくつか指摘した。

The department head picked out a few important points in the meeting.

'点を指摘する' is a common phrase. Here, 'つまむ' implies selecting or extracting key points.

5

道端で美しい花を見つけて、思わずつまんでしまった。

I found a beautiful flower by the roadside and instinctively picked it.

Here, 'つまむ' refers to picking a flower, usually with fingers.

6

パーティーで出されたおつまみをつまみながら話した。

We talked while snacking on the appetizers served at the party.

おつまみ (otsumami) refers to snacks, and 'つまむ' describes the act of eating them.

7

彼は、会話の途中で要点をつまんでまとめた。

He summarized the main points from the conversation.

'要点をつまむ' means to grasp or extract the main points.

8

指でパンくずをつまんで鳥に与えた。

I picked up bread crumbs with my fingers and gave them to the birds.

This example clearly shows 'つまむ' meaning to pick up with fingers.

1

小皿から豆をつまんで食べる。

Picking up beans from a small plate to eat.

〜から (kara) indicates the source from which something is picked up.

2

彼が話している間に、私はビスケットをいくつか摘んだ。

While he was talking, I snacked on a few biscuits.

〜間に (aida ni) indicates 'while' an action is happening. 〜いくつか (ikutsu ka) means 'a few'.

3

仕事中に、時々チョコレートをつまんで気分転換する。

During work, I sometimes snack on chocolate for a change of pace.

〜中に (chū ni) means 'during'. 〜時々 (tokidoki) means 'sometimes'. 〜気分転換する (kibun tenkan suru) means 'to change one's mood/for a change of pace'.

4

食卓にある漬物をつまんでみませんか?

Would you like to try picking at some pickles on the table?

〜にあります (ni arimasu) indicates location. 〜てみませんか (te mimasen ka) is a polite invitation to try something.

5

指で少し塩をつまんで、料理に加えた。

I picked up a pinch of salt with my fingers and added it to the dish.

〜で (de) indicates the tool/method. 〜少し (sukoshi) means 'a little'. 〜に加えた (ni kuwaeta) means 'added to'.

6

会議が長引いたので、軽いスナックをつまむことになった。

Since the meeting dragged on, we ended up having some light snacks.

〜ので (node) indicates reason/cause. 〜長引いた (nagabiita) means 'dragged on'. 〜ことになった (koto ni natta) means 'it was decided that/ended up doing'.

7

彼女は彼の言葉の真意をつまみ上げた。

She grasped the true meaning of his words.

This is a more figurative use of つまむ, meaning to 'grasp' or 'get the gist of'. 〜真意 (shini) means 'true meaning'.

8

パーティーでは、皆がオードブルをつまみながら会話を楽しんだ。

At the party, everyone enjoyed conversations while snacking on appetizers.

〜では (de wa) indicates location/context. 〜ながら (nagara) means 'while doing something else'. 〜楽しんだ (tanoshinda) means 'enjoyed'.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

つまむ vs 掴む (つかむ)

While also meaning 'to grasp' or 'to seize,' 掴む implies a firmer, more complete hold, often with the whole hand, like grabbing a bag or catching a ball. つまむ is a lighter, finger-tip action.

つまむ vs 拾う (ひろう)

This means 'to pick up' something that has fallen, like picking up trash or coins from the ground. It's about retrieving something, not the general action of picking up with fingers.

つまむ vs 取る (とる)

A very general verb meaning 'to take,' 'to get,' 'to pick up.' It lacks the specific nuance of using fingers or pinching that つまむ carries. It can apply to a wide range of actions.

Grammatikmuster

Transitive verb (を) Te-form conjugation Intransitive use (often with で) Nominalizer の Particle を for direct object Sequential actions (te-form) Indicating a small amount (少々) Figurative use (話をつまむ)

Leicht verwechselbar

つまむ vs 摘む (つまむ)

Many Japanese words have similar sounds but different kanji and meanings. つまむ (摘む) is often confused with other verbs that sound similar but have different nuances of 'picking' or 'pinching.'

This kanji specifically refers to picking or plucking something small, like a flower, a piece of food, or a bud. It can also mean to pinch with fingers or chopsticks.

花を摘む (はなをつむ) - to pick flowers. 塩を少し摘む (しおをすこしつまむ) - to take a pinch of salt.

つまむ vs 抓む (つまむ)

Homophone with 摘む (つまむ), leading to confusion in written Japanese if the kanji isn't clear.

This kanji focuses on pinching or grasping something, often with a bit more force or with the intent to hold on, like pinching someone's cheek or a mosquito.

頬を抓む (ほおをつまむ) - to pinch someone's cheek. 蚊を抓む (かをつまむ) - to catch a mosquito.

つまむ vs 撮む (つまむ)

Another homophone, adding to the difficulty of distinguishing meanings purely by sound.

This kanji specifically means to take a picture or film something. While not directly related to 'picking up,' the similar sound can lead to misunderstandings.

写真を撮む (しゃしんをつむ) - to take a picture (less common usage, 撮る is more standard).

つまむ vs 挟む (はさむ)

While the reading is different, the action of 'picking up' or 'holding' can be similar, leading to overlap in understanding for learners.

This means to hold something between two objects, to sandwich, or to insert. It implies being caught or held between two surfaces.

パンにハムを挟む (パンにハムをはさむ) - to put ham in bread. 本の間に手紙を挟む (ほんのあいだにてがみをはさむ) - to put a letter between the pages of a book.

つまむ vs 摘まむ (つまむ)

This is often used interchangeably with 摘む (つまむ) for 'picking up food' or 'snacking,' making it hard to discern a precise difference for learners.

This is a variant spelling of 摘む, often used when referring to lightly picking up small pieces of food to eat, or 'snacking.' The nuance is more casual eating.

お菓子をつまむ (おかしをつまむ) - to snack on sweets. おつまみをつまむ (おつまみをつまむ) - to snack on appetizers.

Satzmuster

A1

つまむ + object (を)

私はパンをつまむ. (I pick up bread.)

A2

つまむ + object (を) + verb (in te-form)

彼女はポテトチップスをつまんで食べた. (She snacked on potato chips and ate them.)

A2

object (を) + つまむ (intransitive)

指でつまんでみてください. (Please try picking it up with your fingers.)

B1

つまむ + noun (as in a pinch of something)

塩を少々つまんでください. (Please take a pinch of salt.)

B1

〜を + つまむ (to snack on something)

彼はいつも仕事中に何かをつまんでいる. (He's always snacking on something during work.)

B1

つまんで + verb (sequential action)

お菓子をつまんで、テレビを見た. (I snacked on sweets and watched TV.)

B2

〜をつまむ (to briefly mention something)

会議で重要な点をいくつか話をつまんだ. (I briefly mentioned a few important points in the meeting.)

B2

つまむ + の (nominalizer)

彼は指で小さな紙をつまむのが得意だ. (He's good at picking up small pieces of paper with his fingers.)

Wortfamilie

Substantive

つまみ knob; handle; snack; appetizer
つまみ食い (つまみぐい) snacking; eating on the sly

So verwendest du es

When つまむ (tsumamu) means 'to pick up with fingers,' it implies using a small motion, often with just two fingers, to grasp something small. For example, picking up a grain of rice or a small piece of food. It can also refer to pinching something. When it means 'to snack on,' it suggests eating small amounts of food casually, often between meals. This usage emphasizes the act of eating something light rather than a full meal.

Häufige Fehler

A common mistake is using つまむ (tsumamu) for picking up larger objects or for formal eating. For larger objects, verbs like 持つ (motsu - to hold) or 取る (toru - to take/pick up) are more appropriate. For eating a full meal, verbs like 食べる (taberu - to eat) are used. Another mistake is confusing it with つかむ (tsukamu), which means to grab firmly or seize, often with the whole hand. つまむ (tsumamu) is always about a lighter, more delicate grip or a casual snack.

Tipps

Main Meanings of つまむ

The verb "つまむ" (tsumamu) primarily means to pick up with one's fingers or to pinch something small. Think of it like picking up a piece of food with your chopsticks or fingers.

Snacking with つまむ

A common use of "つまむ" is when talking about snacking or having a small bite to eat. For example, you might say something like "お菓子をつまむ" (o-kashi o tsumamu) which means "to snack on sweets."

Distinguishing from 取る (toru)

While 取る (toru) means "to take" or "to pick up" in a general sense, "つまむ" specifically implies using fingers or pincers to pick up something small. It's more precise.

Be Careful with Object Size

You wouldn't use "つまむ" for picking up a large object like a book. It's reserved for things you can easily grasp with your fingers, like a raisin or a grain of rice.

Figurative Use: Grasping an Idea

In a more advanced use, "つまむ" can figuratively mean to grasp a small part of something, like an idea or a summary. For instance, 話のつまみ (hanashi no tsumami) could mean "the gist of a story."

Use with 食事 (shokuji)

When used with 食事 (shokuji - meal), it often refers to having a light meal or a snack rather than a full meal. For example, 軽く食事をつまむ (karuku shokuji o tsumamu) means "to have a light meal."

Chopsticks and つまむ

In Japan, using chopsticks is very common. "箸でつまむ" (hashi de tsumamu) means to pick up with chopsticks, which is a frequent action during meals.

Practice with Examples

The best way to get comfortable with "つまむ" is to see it in action. Try creating your own sentences using the common meanings of picking up and snacking.

Related Noun: つまみ (tsumami)

The noun form, "つまみ" (tsumami), can mean a knob (like on a radio) or finger food/snack, especially something eaten with alcohol. This connection can help solidify your understanding of the verb.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you're trying to **tsu**ck a small **ma**rble with your fi**mu**ngers. It helps you remember 'picking up with fingers.'

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture someone delicately picking up a tiny piece of sushi or a small snack with their chopsticks or fingers. You could even imagine a giant finger picking up a miniature 'tsunami' (tsu-na-mi) to remember the sound.

Word Web

つまむ (tsumamu) - to pick up with fingers, to snack on お菓子をつまむ (okashi o tsumamu) - to snack on sweets 塩をつまむ (shio o tsumamu) - to pinch salt 指でつまむ (yubi de tsumamu) - to pick up with fingers つまみ食い (tsumami-gui) - sneaking a bite (literally 'picking and eating')

Herausforderung

Try using 'つまむ' in a sentence about what you would snack on, or what you might pick up with your fingers. For example, '私はおにぎりをつまむ。' (I snack on a rice ball.) or 'ペンを指でつまむ。' (I pick up the pen with my fingers.)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Eating small food items directly with fingers.

  • おつまみをつまむ (otsumami o tsumamu - to pick up a snack)
  • パンくずをつまむ (pankuzu o tsumamu - to pick up breadcrumbs)
  • 枝豆をつまむ (edamame o tsumamu - to pick up edamame)

Pinching or holding something small between your fingers.

  • 鼻をつまむ (hana o tsumamu - to pinch one's nose)
  • 塩をつまむ (shio o tsumamu - to pinch salt)
  • つまんで持ち上げる (tsumande mochiageru - to pick up and lift)

Having a light snack or meal, often with drinks.

  • 軽くつまむ (karuku tsumamu - to have a light snack)
  • 何か軽くつまんでいきませんか? (nanika karuku tsumande ikimasen ka? - Would you like to grab a light bite to eat?)
  • ビールを飲みながらつまむ (biiru o nominagara tsumamu - to snack while drinking beer)

Grasping or holding a small part of something.

  • 紙の端をつまむ (kami no hashi o tsumamu - to pinch the edge of paper)
  • 服の裾をつまむ (fuku no suso o tsumamu - to pinch the hem of clothing)
  • つまんで引っ張る (tsumande hipparu - to pinch and pull)

Figuratively, to pick out or extract a small part of something (e.g., information).

  • 話の要点をつまむ (hanashi no yōten o tsumamu - to pick out the gist of a story)
  • 面白い部分だけをつまむ (omoshiroi bubun dake o tsumamu - to pick out only the interesting parts)
  • いくつか例をつまむ (ikutsu ka rei o tsumamu - to pick out a few examples)

Gesprächseinstiege

"おつまみ、何か軽くつまみますか? (Otsumami, nanika karuku tsumamimasu ka? - Would you like to have a light snack?)"

"その枝豆、つまんで食べてもいいですか? (Sono edamame, tsumande tabete mo ii desu ka? - Is it okay if I pick up and eat that edamame?)"

"お腹空いたから、何か軽くつまみたいね。 (Onaka suita kara, nanika karuku tsumamitai ne. - I'm hungry, so I want to grab a light bite.)"

"このクッキー、つまんで持って行ってもいい? (Kono kukkii, tsumande motte itte mo ii? - Can I pick up and take this cookie?)"

"話の要点をつまんで教えてください。 (Hanashi no yōten o tsumande oshiete kudasai. - Please tell me the gist of the story.)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、何か「つまんだ」食べ物がありましたか?それは何でしたか? (Kyō, nanika 'tsumanda' tabemono ga arimashita ka? Sore wa nan deshitaka? - Did you 'snack on' any food today? What was it?)

指で何かをつまんで、その感触を説明してください。(Yubi de nanika o tsumande, sono kanshoku o setsumei shite kudasai. - Pinch something with your fingers and describe its texture.)

もし友達と居酒屋に行くなら、どんなおつまみをつまみたいですか? (Moshi tomodachi to izakaya ni iku nara, donna otsumami o tsumamitai desu ka? - If you were to go to an izakaya with friends, what kind of snacks would you want to pick at?)

あなたは普段、食事の前に軽く何かをつまみますか? (Anata wa fudan, shokuji no mae ni karuku nanika o tsumamimasu ka? - Do you usually have a light snack before a meal?)

「つまむ」という言葉を使って、あなたの一日の出来事を描写してみてください。( 'Tsumamu' to iu kotoba o tsukatte, anata no ichinichi no dekigoto o byōsha shite mite kudasai. - Try to describe an event from your day using the word 'tsumamu'.)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Both つまむ (tsumamu) and つかむ (tsukamu) involve grasping, but the nuance is different. つまむ usually means to pick up something small with your fingers or a tool like chopsticks, often with a light touch. Think of picking up a potato chip. つかむ is a stronger grasp, like grabbing a ball or clutching someone's arm. It implies holding something more firmly or taking hold of a larger object.

While つまむ is very commonly used for picking up food, especially small pieces to eat as a snack, it's not exclusively for food. You can use it for picking up other small things with your fingers or a tool. For example, you might 'つまむ' a thread or a small piece of paper. However, it's most frequently associated with eating small bites.

Any small snack that you pick up with your fingers or chopsticks is perfect for つまむ! Things like:

  • ポテトチップスをつまむ (Poteeto chippusu o tsumamu - to snack on potato chips)
  • おつまみをつまむ (Otsumami o tsumamu - to snack on appetizers/bar snacks)
  • お菓子をつまむ (Okashi o tsumamu - to snack on sweets/snacks)
It emphasizes the action of taking a small bite or piece.

Not always. While it often refers to eating small snacks, the primary meaning of つまむ is 'to pick up with fingers or a tool.' So, you could say:

  • 箸で豆をつまむ (Hashi de mame o tsumamu - to pick up beans with chopsticks) - Here, you're just picking them up.
  • 指で髪の毛をつまむ (Yubi de kaminoke o tsumamu - to pick up hair with your fingers) - Again, not about eating.
The context will make it clear whether eating is implied.

Absolutely! A common and natural way is:

  • ちょっと何かつまむ (Chotto nani ka tsumamu - to just snack on something a little)
  • 軽くつまむ (Karuku tsumamu - to have a light snack)
This expresses the idea of eating a small amount, not a full meal.

Yes, つまむ can also mean 'to pinch.' This aligns with the idea of picking something up with your fingers, often implying a gentle but firm grip between two fingers. For instance:

  • 彼の腕をつまんだ (Kare no ude o tsumanda - I pinched his arm)
  • 洗濯ばさみで洗濯物をつまむ (Sentakubasami de sentakumono o tsumamu - to clip laundry with a clothespin) - Here, the clothespin 'pinches' the laundry.

When using chopsticks, つまむ is the perfect verb to describe the action of picking up food. You'd say:

  • 箸で魚をつまむ (Hashi de sakana o tsumamu - to pick up fish with chopsticks)
  • お寿司を箸でつまんで食べる (Osushi o hashi de tsumande taberu - to pick up and eat sushi with chopsticks)
It fits naturally with the delicate action of using chopsticks.

Yes, it does! つまむ can also mean to 'pick out' or 'summarize' the main points of something. For example:

  • 話の要点をつまむ (Hanashi no youten o tsumamu - to grasp the main points of a story)
  • いくつかの記事から面白い部分をつまんだ (Ikutsuka no kiji kara omoshiroi bubun o tsumanda - I picked out interesting parts from several articles)
It's like picking out the important bits with your mental fingers.

つまむ is a neutral verb in terms of politeness. It's neither particularly formal nor overly casual. You can use it in most everyday situations without sounding rude or overly stiff. The politeness level would depend more on the surrounding sentence structure and honorifics, rather than the verb itself.

No, you wouldn't typically use つまむ for eating a whole sandwich. つまむ is specifically for picking up or eating small pieces. For a sandwich, you'd use a verb like 食べる (taberu - to eat) or 食べる (shokujisuru - to have a meal), or perhaps かじる (kajiru - to bite/munch on) if you're talking about the act of taking a bite. Remember, つまむ implies small, light actions.

Teste dich selbst 144 Fragen

fill blank A1

お菓子を___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

To snack on treats, use つまむ (tsumamu).

fill blank A1

お箸で豆を___のは難しいです。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

When picking up small things with chopsticks, つまむ (tsumamu) is the correct verb.

fill blank A1

このパンは小さいので、指で___ことができます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

To pick up a small piece of bread with your fingers, use つまむ (tsumamu).

fill blank A1

映画を見ながら、ポップコーンを___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

Snacking on popcorn while watching a movie uses つまむ (tsumamu).

fill blank A1

彼はいつも何かを___いる。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんでいる

To say someone is always snacking, use つまんでいる (tsumande iru).

fill blank A1

少しお腹が空いたので、何か___たい。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまみたい

If you're a little hungry and want to snack, つまみたい (tsumamitai) is appropriate.

multiple choice A1

Which of these is something you would likely「つまむ」?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: おかし (snacks/sweets)

「つまむ」often refers to picking up small items, especially food like snacks, with your fingers.

multiple choice A1

If someone is 「つまむ」ing something, what are they probably using?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ゆび (fingers)

「つまむ」specifically means to pick up with fingers.

multiple choice A1

Which sentence uses「つまむ」correctly?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ポテトチップスを「つまむ」。(Pick up potato chips.)

「つまむ」is used for picking up small items, especially food like snacks. Potato chips fit this description.

true false A1

You can use 「つまむ」to describe eating a big meal.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「つまむ」often implies eating small portions or snacking, not a large meal.

true false A1

If you 「つまむ」a piece of paper, you are likely holding it with your fingers.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

「つまむ」means to pick up or hold with fingers.

true false A1

「つまむ」can be used when talking about drinking a glass of water.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「つまむ」is related to picking up solids, usually food, with fingers, not drinking liquids.

listening A1

The speaker wants you to pick up a snack.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: スナック菓子をつまんでください。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening A1

Someone is eating bread with their fingers.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指でパンをつまんで食べる。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening A1

The speaker likes to snack on sweets.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: お菓子をつまむのが好きです。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

指でつまんでください。

Focus: つまんで (tsumande)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

お菓子をつまむ。

Focus: お菓子 (okashi)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

パンをつまんで食べる。

Focus: 食べる (taberu)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A1

Imagine you are at a party and see some delicious snacks. Write a short sentence in Japanese saying you will pick up a snack.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

お菓子をつまみます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A1

Write a Japanese sentence about picking up a small piece of paper.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

紙をつまみます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A1

Write a Japanese sentence expressing that you want to snack on something light.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

何か軽いつまむものが欲しいです。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
reading A1

What does B suggest doing with the snack?

Read this passage:

A: このお菓子、おいしいですね。 B: はい、少しつまんでみましょう。

What does B suggest doing with the snack?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Eat a little bit.

B says '少しつまんでみましょう', which means 'Let's try picking up a little bit (to eat)'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Eat a little bit.

B says '少しつまんでみましょう', which means 'Let's try picking up a little bit (to eat)'.

reading A1

What is the cat doing?

Read this passage:

猫が魚をつまんでいます。とてもかわいいです。

What is the cat doing?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Eating fish.

「魚をつまんでいます」 means 'picking up/snacking on fish'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Eating fish.

「魚をつまんでいます」 means 'picking up/snacking on fish'.

reading A1

What are people doing at the party?

Read this passage:

パーティーで、みんなでおしゃべりしながら、サンドイッチをつまんでいます。

What are people doing at the party?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Eating sandwiches and talking.

「おしゃべりしながら、サンドイッチをつまんでいます」 means 'talking while snacking on sandwiches'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Eating sandwiches and talking.

「おしゃべりしながら、サンドイッチをつまんでいます」 means 'talking while snacking on sandwiches'.

sentence order A1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: お 寿司 を つまむ。

This sentence means 'To pick up sushi.' The particles 'を' marks 'sushi' as the direct object of the verb 'つまむ'.

sentence order A1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指 で お菓子 を つまむ。

This sentence means 'To pick up sweets with fingers.' '指 で' indicates 'by finger' and 'お菓子 を' marks 'sweets' as the direct object.

sentence order A1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ちょっと おやつ を つまむ。

This sentence means 'To snack on a little something.' 'ちょっと' means 'a little' and 'おやつ を' means 'snack' as the direct object.

fill blank A2

お箸で小さい豆を___のは難しいです。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は指先や箸などで小さいものを挟んで持ち上げる動作に使います。「つかむ」は手全体で握る、あるいは機会などを捕らえる意味です。

fill blank A2

休憩時間にちょっとお菓子を___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は軽い食事やスナックを少し食べる、という意味でも使われます。

fill blank A2

このおにぎりは大きすぎて、片手で___ません。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つか

この文脈では「つかむ」(手でしっかりと握る)の方が自然です。おにぎりは「つまむ」には大きすぎます。

fill blank A2

テーブルの上のパンを___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: とって

「とる」は「手に取る」という一般的な動作です。「つまむ」は小さいものやスナックを指で軽く取る場合に使うことが多いです。

fill blank A2

彼は私の腕を___、話しかけてきた。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つかんで

「つかむ」は腕などをしっかり掴む場合に使います。「つまむ」は指先で軽く挟む感じです。

fill blank A2

パーティーでチーズをいくつか___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんだ

パーティーなどで気軽に軽食を少し食べる場合は「つまむ」が適切です。

multiple choice A2

Choose the correct particle for this sentence: 彼女はパンを___食べた。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

The particle 'を' (o) is used to mark the direct object of a transitive verb. Here, 'パン' (pan - bread) is the object being eaten.

multiple choice A2

Which verb means 'to eat'?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 食べる (taberu)

食べる (taberu) means 'to eat'. 飲む (nomu) means 'to drink', 読む (yomu) means 'to read', and 聞く (kiku) means 'to listen'.

multiple choice A2

Select the correct sentence structure: I eat breakfast.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 私は朝ごはんを食べます。

In Japanese, the typical sentence structure is Subject-Object-Verb. '私は' (Watashi wa - I) is the subject, '朝ごはんを' (asagohan o - breakfast) is the object, and '食べます' (tabemasu - eat) is the verb.

true false A2

「私はパンを食べる」 means 'I eat bread'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

「私はパンを食べる」 (Watashi wa pan o taberu) directly translates to 'I eat bread'.

true false A2

The verb 「飲む」 (nomu) means 'to read'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「飲む」 (nomu) means 'to drink'. The verb 'to read' is 「読む」 (yomu).

true false A2

In Japanese, adjectives usually come after the noun they modify.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

In Japanese, adjectives typically come before the noun they modify, for example, 'akai kuruma' (赤い車 - red car).

writing A2

You are at a party and see some delicious appetizers. Write a sentence in Japanese saying you will pick up an appetizer with your fingers.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

おつまみをつまみます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A2

Your friend offers you a snack. Write a short sentence in Japanese accepting the snack, using 'tsumamu' in its meaning of 'to snack on'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

はい、おやつをつまみます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A2

You are talking about a small bird. Write a Japanese sentence saying the bird is picking up a seed with its beak. (Hint: 'beak' is くちばし).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

鳥が種をくちばしでつまみます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
reading A2

What does B suggest doing?

Read this passage:

A: このお菓子、美味しいですね。 B: ええ、私も好きです。少しつまんでみませんか? A: はい、いただきます。

What does B suggest doing?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To try a little bit of the snack.

「少しつまんでみませんか?」means 'Would you like to try a little bit (of the snack)?'

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To try a little bit of the snack.

「少しつまんでみませんか?」means 'Would you like to try a little bit (of the snack)?'

reading A2

What did the person do at the store?

Read this passage:

お店で、小さい物を指でつまんで買いました。それは、お土産にしました。

What did the person do at the store?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: They picked up a small item with their fingers and bought it.

「小さい物を指でつまんで買いました」means 'I picked up a small item with my fingers and bought it'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: They picked up a small item with their fingers and bought it.

「小さい物を指でつまんで買いました」means 'I picked up a small item with my fingers and bought it'.

reading A2

What did everyone do with the cookies at the party?

Read this passage:

パーティーで、おいしいクッキーがたくさんありました。みんなでつまんで食べました。

What did everyone do with the cookies at the party?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: They snacked on them.

「みんなでつまんで食べました」means 'Everyone snacked on them and ate them'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: They snacked on them.

「みんなでつまんで食べました」means 'Everyone snacked on them and ate them'.

sentence order A2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 子供が お菓子を つまむ

This sentence means 'The child snacks on sweets.' The typical Japanese sentence structure is Subject-Object-Verb.

sentence order A2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指で パンを つまむ

This sentence means 'To pick up bread with fingers.' '指で' (yubi de) indicates 'with fingers'.

sentence order A2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 少し つまんで ください

This means 'Please pick up a little bit.' The te-form of つまむ (tsumamu) is つまんで (tsumande), and ください (kudasai) makes it a polite request.

fill blank B1

彼女は箸で豆を___のが上手です。(She is good at ___ beans with chopsticks.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は指や箸で小さいものをつまみ上げるときに使います。

fill blank B1

お腹が空いたので、クッキーをいくつか___。(I was hungry, so I ___ some cookies.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は軽く食べる、おやつを食べるという意味でも使えます。

fill blank B1

彼は指で塩を___料理に入れた。(He ___ salt with his fingers and put it in the dish.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

指先で少量をつまみ取る動作に「つまむ」を使います。

fill blank B1

会議中にお菓子を___のは失礼です。(It is rude to ___ snacks during a meeting.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

フォーマルな場での軽食を指す際に「つまむ」が使われることがあります。

fill blank B1

このお菓子は、ちょっと口寂しいときに___のにぴったりです。(This snack is perfect for ___ when you want something small to eat.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「口寂しいときに何かを少し食べる」というニュアンスに「つまむ」が合います。

fill blank B1

彼女はピンセットで小さな部品を丁寧に___。(She carefully ___ the small parts with tweezers.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

ピンセットで何かをつかむ動作にも「つまむ」が使われます。

multiple choice B1

Choose the correct kanji for 「つまむ」.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 摘む

「摘む」is the kanji for 'tsumamu' when it means to pick or pluck, often with fingers. 「掴む」means to grasp firmly. 「挟む」means to hold between two things. 「握る」means to grip or clench.

multiple choice B1

Which of these is the most appropriate use of 「つまむ」?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: お菓子をつまむ (to snack on sweets)

「つまむ」is used for picking up small items, especially food, with your fingers, or for having a small snack. It's not typically used for large objects like books or cars, or intangible things like air.

multiple choice B1

You see a small piece of paper on the floor. What would you most likely do with it using 「つまむ」?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: その紙を指でつまむ (to pick up that paper with your fingers)

「つまむ」specifically refers to picking something up with your fingers or a similar small pinching motion. While you might pick up paper, 'with your fingers' clarifies the action.

true false B1

「つまむ」can be used when you eat a small amount of food as a snack.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

Yes, 'tsumamu' often refers to snacking or eating a little bit of something, like a quick bite.

true false B1

You can use 「つまむ」to describe picking up a heavy box.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

No, 'tsumamu' implies picking up something small or light, usually with your fingers. For a heavy box, you would use a different verb like 「持ち上げる」(mochiageru - to lift up).

true false B1

If you are 'tsumamu-ing' something, you are generally using your whole hand to grab it firmly.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

No, 'tsumamu' refers to using your fingers, often the thumb and forefinger, to pinch or pick something up, not a full-hand grasp. 「掴む」(tsukamu) would be closer to 'grabbing firmly'.

listening B1

What did she do with the cookie?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼女は指でクッキーをつまんで食べた。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening B1

What does he do during work?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼はいつも仕事中にスナックをつまんでいる。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening B1

What is difficult with chopsticks?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: お箸で小さいものをつまむのは難しい。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

このお菓子をつまんでみて。

Focus: つまんで (tsumande)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

私は小さい頃からおやつをつまむのが好きでした。

Focus: つまむのが (tsumamu no ga)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

彼は時々、ご飯をつまむように食べる。

Focus: つまむように (tsumamu yō ni)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
multiple choice B2

Choose the most appropriate meaning for 「お菓子をつまむ」.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To snack on sweets.

「つまむ」in this context means to snack on or casually eat small portions of food, like sweets.

multiple choice B2

Which sentence uses 「つまむ」 correctly to mean 'to pick up with fingers'?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指で塩をつまんで味見をした。

「指で塩をつまむ」is a common usage for picking up a small amount with fingers. The other options use 'つまむ' in other, incorrect contexts.

multiple choice B2

What is the best translation for 「ちょっとしたものを、つまむ」?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To have a small snack.

「ちょっとしたものを」 refers to small things, and 「つまむ」 in this case means to eat as a snack.

true false B2

You can use 「つまむ」 to describe picking up a heavy box.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「つまむ」is typically used for picking up small items with fingers, not heavy objects.

true false B2

If someone says 「お酒をつまみに何か食べたい」, they want something to snack on with their drink.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

「つまみ」 (the noun form of 「つまむ」) often refers to snacks or appetizers eaten with alcoholic beverages.

true false B2

「話をうまくつまむ」 means to grasp the main points of a conversation.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

「つまむ」 can also mean to grasp the essence or main points of something, like a story or conversation.

writing B2

Imagine you're at a party. Describe how you would 'つまむ' (pick up/snack on) some food. Use descriptive Japanese.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

パーティーで、私は寿司を指でつまんで食べます。 (At the party, I pick up and eat sushi with my fingers.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing B2

Write a short sentence about someone 'つまむ'ing a small object. What are they picking up and why?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

彼は落ちた小銭を指でつまんだ。(He picked up the fallen coin with his fingers.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing B2

Describe a situation where you might 'つまむ' something quickly because you are busy or in a hurry. What is it?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

忙しいので、おにぎりをつまんで急いで家を出ました。(Since I'm busy, I grabbed an onigiri and quickly left the house.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
reading B2

この文で「つまんで」はどのような状況を表していますか? (In this sentence, what kind of situation does 'つまんで' describe?)

Read this passage:

友達が作ってくれたお弁当に入っていた唐揚げを、私は嬉しそうにつまんで食べました。その唐揚げはとても美味しくて、あっという間になくなってしまいました。

この文で「つまんで」はどのような状況を表していますか? (In this sentence, what kind of situation does 'つまんで' describe?)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指で軽く取って食べている (Lightly taking and eating with fingers)

文脈から、指で唐揚げを軽く取って食べている様子がわかります。 (From the context, it's clear that the person is lightly taking and eating karaage with their fingers.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指で軽く取って食べている (Lightly taking and eating with fingers)

文脈から、指で唐揚げを軽く取って食べている様子がわかります。 (From the context, it's clear that the person is lightly taking and eating karaage with their fingers.)

reading B2

なぜ「チョコレートをつまんだ」のですか? (Why did the person 'snack on' the chocolate?)

Read this passage:

会議中に少しお腹が空いてきたので、ポケットに忍ばせていたチョコレートをつまんだ。誰も見ていないことを確認してから、こっそり口に入れた。

なぜ「チョコレートをつまんだ」のですか? (Why did the person 'snack on' the chocolate?)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: お腹が空いたので、こっそり食べたかったから (Because they were hungry and wanted to eat secretly)

会議中にお腹が空いたこと、そして誰にも見られないようにこっそり食べたかったことが書かれています。 (It states that the person was hungry during the meeting and wanted to eat secretly so no one would see.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: お腹が空いたので、こっそり食べたかったから (Because they were hungry and wanted to eat secretly)

会議中にお腹が空いたこと、そして誰にも見られないようにこっそり食べたかったことが書かれています。 (It states that the person was hungry during the meeting and wanted to eat secretly so no one would see.)

reading B2

この文の「つまんで」は、どのような行動を表していますか? (In this sentence, what action does 'つまんで' represent?)

Read this passage:

彼はいつも小さなことを気にするタイプだ。先日も、テーブルの端に落ちていたパンくずを指でつまんでゴミ箱に捨てていた。本当に細かいところまでよく見ている。

この文の「つまんで」は、どのような行動を表していますか? (In this sentence, what action does 'つまんで' represent?)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 小さな物を指で取り除くこと (Removing a small object with fingers)

パンくずのような小さな物を指で拾い上げる様子が描かれています。 (It describes picking up a small object like breadcrumbs with fingers.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 小さな物を指で取り除くこと (Removing a small object with fingers)

パンくずのような小さな物を指で拾い上げる様子が描かれています。 (It describes picking up a small object like breadcrumbs with fingers.)

sentence order B2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼は 何か つまんで 食べながら ニュースを 見ていた。

This sentence describes someone snacking while watching the news. 'つまんで' (tsumande) is the te-form of 'つまむ' (tsumamu), meaning 'to snack on' or 'to pick up and eat'.

sentence order B2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: この お菓子は 小さすぎて、指で つまみにくい。

This sentence talks about how hard it is to pick up a small snack with fingers. 'つまみにくい' (tsumami-nikui) means 'difficult to pick up' or 'difficult to snack on'.

sentence order B2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: パーティーで 軽い ものを つまむのに ちょうどいい。

This sentence suggests something is perfect for snacking on light items at a party. 'つまむのに' (tsumamu no ni) means 'for snacking on' or 'for picking up'.

fill blank C1

この小さな魚は手で___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまめる

「つまむ」は指で軽く挟んで持つ動作を表します。この文脈では、小さな魚を指で「つまむ」のが最も自然です。

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彼はいつも仕事中にデスクで軽食を___。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は、食事と食事の間に軽く何かを食べる、つまり「軽食をとる」という意味でも使われます。

fill blank C1

会話の途中で、彼は要点を___言った。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで

「要点をつまむ」は、話の中から重要な部分だけを抜き出す、という意味で使われる慣用表現です。

fill blank C1

彼女は指で小さな花びらを___、そっと置いた。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまみ

「つまむ」は、指先で優しく挟むような動作を表します。繊細な花びらを扱うのに適しています。

fill blank C1

夜中に小腹が空いたので、冷蔵庫からチーズを___食べた。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで

「小腹が空いたので何かをつまむ」は、軽く何かを食べるという意味でよく使われます。

fill blank C1

その問題の核心を___説明してほしい。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで

「核心をつまむ」は、「要点をつまむ」と同様に、物事の最も重要な部分を捉えるという意味で使われる表現です。

multiple choice C1

空腹時に何かを軽く食べることを何と言いますか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は、空腹時に指で軽食を食べることを指します。他の選択肢は一般的な動作です。

multiple choice C1

パーティーで出された小さなお菓子を指で取るとき、どの動詞を使いますか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は、小さいものを指で軽く挟んで取るときに使う動詞です。一方、「つかむ」はしっかり握るニュアンスがあります。

multiple choice C1

この文脈で「つまむ」が最も適切でないのはどれですか?「彼は___パンを一口で食べた。」

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 一口飲む

「つまむ」は固形物を指で軽く食べるときに使います。「飲む」は液体に使う動詞なので不適切です。

true false C1

「つまむ」は、フォークや箸を使って食事をする状況でも使えます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「つまむ」は基本的に指で軽く食べる動作を指し、フォークや箸を使う場合は通常「食べる」や「取る」などが使われます。

true false C1

お腹が空いていない時に、習慣的にスナック菓子を食べることを「つまむ」と表現できます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

「つまむ」は、空腹を満たすだけでなく、習慣的に軽いものを食べる行為全般にも使われます。例えば、「おやつをつまむ」など。

true false C1

「つまむ」は、大きな肉の塊を指で掴むときにも使える動詞である。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「つまむ」は小さいものを指で軽く挟むニュアンスが強く、大きな肉の塊には通常「つかむ」などが使われます。

listening C1

She picked up the candy with her fingers and ate it.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼女は指でお菓子をつまんで食べた。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening C1

Stop snacking before dinner.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 夕食前につまむのはやめなさい。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening C1

Can you skillfully pick up small things with chopsticks?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 箸で小さなものを上手につまむことができますか?
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

会議中にお菓子をつまむのは失礼です。

Focus: つまむ (tsumamu)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

彼はつまみ食いをするのが好きだ。

Focus: つまみ食い (tsumamigui)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

塩を少しつまんで料理に加えた。

Focus: つまんで (tsumande)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
sentence order C1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: パーティーで 彼は 軽食を つまんでいた。

This sentence describes someone snacking on light meals at a party. The particles 'で' (at) and 'を' (object marker) help order the sentence correctly.

sentence order C1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼女は 箸で 小さな 豆を つまんだ。

This sentence means 'She picked up a small bean with chopsticks.' The particle 'で' indicates the tool used, and 'を' marks the direct object.

sentence order C1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで 食べやすいように 一口サイズに 切った。

This sentence translates to 'I cut it into bite-sized pieces so it would be easy to pick up and eat.' 'つまんで' is the te-form of 'つまむ' and connects to the next action.

fill blank C2

彼女は指先でチョコレートを___、口に運んだ。 (She ___ the chocolate with her fingertips and brought it to her mouth.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで

「つまむ」は指先で軽く持ち上げるニュアンスがあります。

fill blank C2

会議中、彼は机の上に置いてあったクッキーをそっと___いた。 (During the meeting, he quietly ___ a cookie that was on the table.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで

「つまむ」は軽食をちょっと食べる、という状況にも使えます。

fill blank C2

箸で小さな豆を___のは、なかなか難しい。 (It's quite difficult to ___ small beans with chopsticks.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

箸で物を挟む動作も「つまむ」で表現できます。

fill blank C2

食卓に並べられたおつまみを、みんなで少しずつ___。 (Everyone ___ the snacks arranged on the table little by little.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんだ

「おつまみ」と組み合わせて、軽食を食べることを表します。

fill blank C2

ペンを___指先で、彼は紙にメモを書き始めた。 (With the fingertips that ___ the pen, he started writing notes on the paper.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんだ

ペンを軽く持つ動作も「つまむ」で表現できます。特に指先で軽く持つニュアンスです。

fill blank C2

彼は皿からチーズを___、ワインと一緒に味わった。 (He ___ cheese from the plate and savored it with wine.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまんで

食べ物を少しだけ取って食べる、という状況に適しています。

multiple choice C2

空腹時に何かを軽く食べることを何と言いますか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

「つまむ」は、軽食をとる、または指で少しだけ食べ物をつまむ行為を指します。

multiple choice C2

この文脈で「つまむ」の最も適切な意味はどれですか?「彼はテーブルの上のクッキーをつまんで食べた。」

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指で軽く取る

「つまむ」は、少量や軽食を指で取る、という意味で使われます。

multiple choice C2

パーティーで出されたお菓子を少しだけ食べる場合、どの動詞を使いますか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: つまむ

パーティーなどでの軽食を指で取る行為は「つまむ」と表現されます。

true false C2

「つまむ」は常に大量の食事をすることを意味する。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

「つまむ」は軽食をとる、または指で少量をつまむことを意味し、大量の食事とは異なります。

true false C2

指で食べ物を少し取る行為は「つまむ」と表現できる。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

「つまむ」は指で食べ物を少量取る、という行為を正確に表現しています。

true false C2

お腹がいっぱいなのに、デザートをつまむことはできない。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

お腹がいっぱいでも、少しだけデザートを「つまむ」ことは可能です。これは「少しだけ食べる」という意味合いです。

listening C2

He picked up the snack. It was delicious.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼がつまんだお菓子はとても美味しかった。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening C2

Let's see if there's anything to snack on in the fridge.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ちょっとつまむものがあるか、冷蔵庫を見てみよう。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening C2

She picked up the breadcrumbs with her fingers and threw them away.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼女は指でパンくずをつまんで捨てた。
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C2

Read this aloud:

指でパンくずをつまんで捨ててください。

Focus: つまんで

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C2

Read this aloud:

小腹が空いたので、何か軽くつまむものが欲しいです。

Focus: つまむもの

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C2

Read this aloud:

このお菓子は指でつまんで食べるのが一番です。

Focus: つまんで食べる

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing C2

Imagine you're at a party and see someone discreetly snacking on something. Describe the scene and what you think they are 'つまむ'ing (snacking on).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

パーティーで、彼はこっそりポケットからチョコレートを取り出してつまんでいた。誰も見ていないと思っていたようだが、私は見てしまった。彼のお気に入りのつまみはいつもチョコレートだ。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing C2

You are describing a delicate task that requires picking up small objects with your fingers. Explain what you are doing, using 'つまむ' to describe the action.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

この模型はとても細かい部品が多いので、ピンセットを使って慎重につまむ必要がある。少しでも力を入れすぎると、簡単に壊れてしまうからだ。集中力が試される作業だ。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing C2

Describe a situation where someone might 'つまむ' (pick up with fingers) something as an act of politeness or consideration, even if it's not strictly necessary.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

お客様が来られたとき、お茶菓子を出す際に、直接手で触れないように小さなトングでそっとつまむのが日本の習慣だ。これは衛生面だけでなく、お客様への気遣いを表す行為である。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
reading C2

この会話で、友人が「つまむ」ものとして挙げたのは何ですか?

Read this passage:

友人が「最近、ダイエット中なんだけど、ついつい夜中にポテトチップスをつまんでしまうんだよね」とため息をついた。私は「それは仕方ないよ。ストレスが溜まると無性に何かをつまみたくなるものだ」と慰めた。

この会話で、友人が「つまむ」ものとして挙げたのは何ですか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ポテトチップス

友人は「ポテトチップスをつまんでしまう」と明言しています。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: ポテトチップス

友人は「ポテトチップスをつまんでしまう」と明言しています。

reading C2

シェフがハーブを「つまむ」行為について、最も適切に描写しているのはどれですか?

Read this passage:

シェフは新鮮なハーブを指先で丁寧につまみ、料理の仕上げに散らした。その繊細な動きは、まるで芸術作品を作り上げているかのようだった。彼は常に細部にまでこだわり、最高の味と見た目を追求している。

シェフがハーブを「つまむ」行為について、最も適切に描写しているのはどれですか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指先で慎重に少量を取る様子

「指先で丁寧に」という記述から、繊細な動きであることがわかります。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 指先で慎重に少量を取る様子

「指先で丁寧に」という記述から、繊細な動きであることがわかります。

reading C2

この文章から、筆者が「つまむ」行為を通して感じたことは何ですか?

Read this passage:

子供の頃、よく祖母の家で、縁側に座って干してある柿をつまんで食べたものだ。その甘酸っぱい味が忘れられない。祖母はいつも「好きにつまんでいいよ」と言ってくれた。

この文章から、筆者が「つまむ」行為を通して感じたことは何ですか?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 懐かしい思い出と祖母の優しさ

「忘れられない」「好きにつまんでいいよと言ってくれた」という記述から、祖母との思い出や優しさが感じられます。

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 懐かしい思い出と祖母の優しさ

「忘れられない」「好きにつまんでいいよと言ってくれた」という記述から、祖母との思い出や優しさが感じられます。

sentence order C2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: パーティーで 彼は いつも つまみ食い している。

This sentence describes someone habitually snacking at a party. 'パーティーで' (at the party) sets the location, '彼は' (he) is the subject, 'いつも' (always) indicates frequency, and 'つまみ食い している' (is snacking) is the action.

sentence order C2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 会議中も お菓子を つまむ 癖が 直らない。

This sentence expresses the inability to break a habit. '会議中も' (even during the meeting) specifies the context, 'お菓子を つまむ' (to snack on sweets) is the action, and '癖が 直らない' (can't break the habit) describes the difficulty.

sentence order C2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: 彼女は 指で パンくずを つまんで 食べた。

This sentence describes a specific action of picking up food. '彼女は' (she) is the subject, '指で' (with her fingers) is the instrument, 'パンくずを つまんで' (picked up the breadcrumbs) is the action, and '食べた' (ate) is the result.

/ 144 correct

Perfect score!

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