めく
🃏 Flashcard
めく
meku
Tap to reveal usage
seems; show signs of ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
meku
Post ID
51264
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
seems; show signs of ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something appears or shows signs of being a certain way, often with a gradual or atmospheric nuance.
Attaches to
Attach to noun stems or な-adjective stems (without な), e.g., 秋めく (autumn-like), 謎めく (mysterious). The pattern forms verbs, so conjugate like a godan verb (めく, めいた, めいて, めけば, etc.).
めく is an N1-level verb suffix that means 'to seem' or 'to show signs of.' It is used with a limited set of nouns and な-adjective stems to describe something that takes on the quality of that word. For example, 秋めく means 'to become autumn-like' — not just 'it is autumn,' but that the air, light, or mood starts to feel like autumn. Similarly, 謎めく means 'to be mysterious' or 'to have a mysterious air.' The resulting verb is intransitive and often used in its て-form or past tense to describe a state or atmosphere.
日が短くなり、街はすっかり秋めいてきた。
Hi ga mijikaku nari, machi wa sukkari aki-meite kita.
The days have gotten shorter, and the city has really started to feel like autumn.
彼女の微笑みはどこか謎めいていて、惹きつけられる。
Kanojo no hohoemi wa dokoka nazo-meite ite, hikitsukerareru.
Her smile is somehow mysterious, and I find myself drawn to her.
その古い洋館は、昼間でも不気味めいた雰囲気が漂っていた。
Sono furui yōkan wa, hiruma demo bukimi-meita fun'iki ga tadayotte ita.
That old Western-style house had an eerie atmosphere even during the day.
Not 〜らしい (seems, typical of)
らしい attaches to nouns and adjectives to mean 'typical of' or 'seems based on evidence,' e.g., 秋らしい (autumn-like, typical autumn weather). めく is more poetic and abstract, focusing on the atmosphere or appearance, and is limited to certain stems (秋めく, 謎めく, 色めく).
Register
Literary and somewhat formal; common in written narration and polished speech, but not in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
めく
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat めく three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using めく. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern めく mean?
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Seems; show signs of ~
What JLPT level is めく?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use めく in a sentence?
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Attach めく (meku) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is めく formal or casual Japanese?
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めく is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember めく long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.