JLPT N3 · Verb

効く (kiku)

効く (きく, kiku) is a Japanese verb meaning “to be effective; to take effect”. It appears in JLPT N3 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: きく
Romaji: kiku
Word class: Godan verb (う-verb) ending in く
Level: JLPT N3 (unofficial)

Meaning

to be effective; to take effect; to be good (for) · godan verb, intransitive · usu. 効く
to work; to function well · godan verb, intransitive · usu. 利く for body senses, functions, etc.
to be possible (to do, use, etc.); to be able to · godan verb, intransitive
to taste (alcohol); to try · godan verb, transitive

Example sentences

この丸薬は心臓に効く。

These pills act on the heart.

Tatoeba #222554

よくもまあ私にそんな口がきけるね。

How dare you speak to me like that?

Tatoeba #192806

私は５万円までつけがきく。

My credit is good for 50,000 yen.

Tatoeba #161913

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Conjugation of 効く

Godan verb (う-verb) ending in く. Plain and polite forms below; try any other word in the Japanese verb conjugator.

Form	Japanese	Reading
Dictionary	効く	きく kiku
Polite (~masu)	効きます	ききます kikimasu
Negative	効かない	きかない kikanai
Polite negative	効きません	ききません kikimasen
Past	効いた	きいた kiita
Polite past	効きました	ききました kikimashita
Negative past	効かなかった	きかなかった kikanakatta
Te-form	効いて	きいて kiite
Potential	効ける	きける kikeru
Passive	効かれる	きかれる kikareru
Causative	効かせる	きかせる kikaseru
Volitional	効こう	きこう kikou
Imperative	効け	きけ kike
Conditional (~ba)	効けば	きけば kikeba

Kanji in 効く

効

merit, efficacy, efficiencyコウ・き.く・ききめ · 8 strokes

Related words

Other vocabulary sharing a kanji with 効く.

効果こうかeffect有効ゆうこうvalid効力こうりょくeffect効率こうりつefficiency無効むこうinvalid効き目ききめeffect

Source: JMdict entry 1591100 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.