JLPT N2・N3 Grammar – Difference between “〜きる” and “〜ぬく”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜きる” and “〜ぬく”
2. 〜きる
3. 〜ぬく
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Can “〜きる” and “〜ぬく” be substituted for each other?

A: Both of these express completing something to the end. However, they have different meanings, so let’s understand the differences and use them accordingly.

〜きる (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
To do something completely.

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem＋きる

[Point]
It emphasizes that an action has been completed entirely, as in “to do something completely” or “to finish something to the end.” However, it is not used for simple tasks but rather for completing something with a significant amount or degree.

[Examples]
50冊さつもあるまんがを全部ぜんぶ読よみきりました。
I finished reading all 50 volumes of manga.

長ながい距離きょりをなんとか走はしりきりました。
I somehow managed to run the long distance.

この量りょうを全部ぜんぶ食たべきるのは無理むりです。
It’s impossible to eat all this amount.

数かぞえきれないほどの人ひとが集あつまっています。
Countless people have gathered.

〜ぬく (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To do something to the end.

[Rule]
[V] Verb stem＋ぬく

[Point]
It means to do something to the end without giving up, even if it involves difficulties or requires perseverance.

[Commonly used verbs]
考かんがえぬく(think thoroughly), 悩なやみぬく(struggle through), やりぬく(carry through), 耐たえぬく(endure),
戦たたかいぬく(fight through), 守まもりぬく(protect to the end), 勝かちぬく(win through), 走はしりぬく(run through) etc.

[Examples]
その選手せんしゅは何なん度どあきらめそうになっても最後さいごまで走はしりぬきました。
The athlete ran to the end despite feeling like giving up many times.

日本にほんの古ふるい建築けんちくは多おおくの人ひとによって守まもりぬかれています。
Japan’s old buildings have been preserved by many people.

考かんがえぬいた結果けっか、留学りゅうがくすることを決きめました。
As a result of thorough consideration, I decided to study abroad.

選手せんしゅたちはつらい練習れんしゅうを耐たえぬきました。
The athletes endured the tough training.

Let’s Compare

The main difference between “〜きる” and “〜ぬく” is that “〜ぬく” carries the meaning of “overcoming difficulties.”

[Examples]
その選手せんしゅは何なん度どあきらめそうになっても最後さいごまで走はしりぬきました。
The athlete ran to the end despite feeling like giving up many times.
⇒ Despite the difficulty of feeling like giving up many times, they ran to the end.

戦争せんそうを生いきぬいた人ひとたちは非常ひじょうに強つよいです。
The people who survived the war are very strong.
⇒ It emphasizes that people who lived through the difficulties of war are strong.

Let’s compare the differences in the following sentences.

[Examples]
その選手せんしゅは42.195キロを走はしりきりました。
The athlete finished running the 42.195 kilometers.

その選手せんしゅは42.195キロを走はしりぬきました。
The athlete ran through the 42.195 kilometers.

Both of these are not unnatural, but “走はしりきった” focuses on “finishing the long distance of 42.195 kilometers.”On the other hand, “走はしりぬいた” implies that the athlete faced some difficulties.

For example, when imagining a live commentary, the reporter might use these expressions as follows.

[Examples]
藤田ふじた選手せんしゅ、42.195キロを走はしりきりました！
Fujita finished running the 42.195 kilometers!
⇒ It emphasizes that the athlete finished running the long distance.

足あしの骨折こっせつという困難こんなんがありましたが、今日きょうなんとか走はしりぬきました！
Despite the difficulty of a broken leg, he managed to run through it today!
⇒ It emphasizes the difficult times the athlete went through.

Summary

[〜きる]

• It is used when finishing something that has a significant amount or quantity to the end.

[〜ぬく]

• It is used when overcoming difficulties and finishing something to the end.
• It is often used with specific verbs.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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