取り付く

とりつく

Also written 取りつく, 取付く

Meanings

1. Godan verb, Intransitive to cling to; to hold on to; to hold fast to
2. to grapple
3. to set about doing; to begin; to commence; to undertake
4. to possess (someone; of an evil spirit, idea, etc.); to take hold of; to haunt (also written as 取り憑く)
5. to obtain a clue; to get a lead

Kanji

• 取 take. Read as とり.
• 付 attach. Read as つく.

Example sentences

• メイドは客を一人一人大声でとりついた。
  The maid announced each guest.
• テッドは本当にコンピューターに取り付かれているようだね。
  Ted's really got computers on the brain.
• 「君はとっつきにくいね」と社長に言われてしまいました。
  My boss told me I'm hard to approach.
• 彼はとっつきにくい老人だった。
  He was a disagreeable old man.
• 彼は奇妙な考えに取り付かれている。
  He is possessed by an unusual idea.

Common phrases

• 取っつきやすい accessible
• 取り付く島もない (とりつくしまもない) left utterly helpless

Related forms

• 取り付ける (とりつける) to install (transitive partner)

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists