Godan verb, transitive verb

  1. to polish, to shine, to burnish, to scour, to scrub, to brush (teeth), to grind (e.g. a lens).
  2. to refine (a skill, etc.), to improve, to hone, to polish (up), to cultivate (one's character).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
磨く みがく
 
研く みがく
 
琢く みがく

Contained Kanji Breakdown

grind, polish, scour
みが.く マ す.る (9th, N2)
hemp, flax, numb
あさ マ あ (9th, N1)
dotted cliff radical (no. 53)
ゲン (Kentei 1)
wild goose, trailing cliff radical (no. 27)
カン かりがね (Kentei 1)
grove, forest
リン はやし し (1st, N2)
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
stone
いし セキ シャク (1st, N3)
left hand, cliff(厂) variant
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)