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磨く

みがく

to brush (teeth); to polish

Godan verbJLPT N5

Example Sentences

毎日 は を みがきます。
I brush my teeth every day.
きのう くつ を みがきました。
I polished my shoes yesterday.
まだ は を みがいていません。
I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.

Grammar Notes & Usage Tips

Use を after the thing you're brushing or polishing—like 歯を磨く (to brush your teeth) or 靴を磨く (to polish your shoes).
Don’t use に after the object—saying 歯に磨く is incorrect; always use を.
磨く is often used in daily routines, so you might hear it with 毎日 (every day), like 毎日歯を磨きます (I brush my teeth every day).
JLPT N5 level

Common Phrases & Expressions

歯を磨く
to brush (one's) teeth
靴を磨く
to polish shoes
技術を磨く
to improve/refine a skill

Complete Conjugation Table

Basic Forms

Dictionary Form
磨く
Masu Form
磨きます
Te Form
磨いて
Past Form
磨いた
Negative Form
磨かない
Past Negative
磨かなかった

Polite Forms

Polite Present
磨きます
Polite Past
磨きました
Polite Negative
磨きません
Polite Past Negative
磨きませんでした

Advanced Forms

Potential Form
磨ける
Passive Form
磨かれる
Causative Form
磨かせる
Causative Passive
磨かされる
Volitional Form
磨こう
Imperative Form
磨け

Conditional Forms

Conditional (ば)
磨けば
Conditional (たら)
磨いたら

Other Forms

Progressive Form
磨いている
Desire (たい)
磨きたい
Prohibition
磨くな

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