叩きます（たたきます、taたkimasu）
- to hit

The Japanese word 叩きます, read as たたきます (tatakimasu), primarily means "to hit," "to strike," "to knock," or "to tap." It implies a forceful or repeated action of making contact with something. It can refer to physical actions, such as hitting an object, or metaphorical actions, such as knocking on a door. The nuance often includes the idea of making a sound or creating an impact. The verb 叩きます is the polite form (masu-form) of the verb 叩く (tataku).

⚫︎ドアを 叩きます。 Translation: I knock on the door. ⚫︎机を 叩きます。 Translation: I hit the desk. ⚫︎肩を 叩きます。 Translation: I tap someone's shoulder.

⚫︎You would use 叩きます when describing the action of hitting, knocking, or tapping something. ⚫︎It's suitable in various situations, from everyday actions to more figurative uses. ⚫︎When used for knocking, it typically refers to knocking on a door or surface to get someone's attention. ⚫︎When used for hitting, it might refer to hitting a ball, a drum, or even a person (though context is vital). ⚫︎The politeness level is determined by the specific form of the verb, with 叩きます being a polite form.

⚫︎The word is typically written in hiragana as たたきます. ⚫︎The base form, 叩く, is written with the kanji 叩, but it's common to use hiragana, especially when you are less familiar with kanji. ⚫︎The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is always きます in the masu-form.

⚫︎打つ (utsu) - to hit, to strike ⚫︎殴る (naguru) - to punch ⚫︎ノックする (nokku suru) - to knock (a loanword) ⚫︎たたく (tataku) - the dictionary form, to hit, to strike

⚫︎There isn't a direct single antonym, as it depends on the specific context of "hitting." However, words implying gentleness or avoiding contact could be considered antonyms, such as: ⚫︎触る (sawaru) - to touch ⚫︎撫でる (naderu) - to stroke, to caress

ノックをしてから、ドアを 叩きます。 ・Translation: After knocking, I knock on the door. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the common usage of 叩きます to refer to knocking on a door, preceded by the action of ノック (knock).

彼は太鼓をリズミカルに 叩きます。 ・Translation: He taps the drum rhythmically. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates 叩きます in the context of playing a musical instrument, signifying repeated striking or tapping.

The etymology of 叩く (tataku) is uncertain but likely stems from the sound and action of hitting or striking. The kanji 叩 depicts the action of striking. The word has ancient roots in Japanese, evolving over time with the development of the language.