Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 6: 4/20

抜(ぬ)く
all~, completely, see through, overcome, to the bitter end

Often appears as やりぬく,Likely paired with 最後まで

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb[ます+ ぬく
Verb[ます+ ぬきます
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When connected to the ます-stem of another verb, the う-Verb 抜(ぬ)く 'to extract' is often used to indicate that (A) has happened 'completely'. This 'extract' nuance frequently indicates that beyond completion, (A) has been 'overcome', or 'seen through to the bitter end'.
The literal meaning of 抜(ぬ)く can be thought of as being quite close to the English expression 'to pull through', for example, 'despite difficulties, I pulled through in the end'. Let's look at a few examples of where 抜(ぬ)く will be used.
  • 私(わたし)の計画(けいかく)は彼(かれ)に見(み)抜(ぬ)かれていた。
    He saw through my plans.
  • 自分(じぶん)の子供(こども)達(たち)を守(まも)り抜(ぬ)くためならなんでもできる。
    I could do anything to protect my kids till the end.
  • 私(わたし)は何(なに)があっても最後(さいしょ)までやり抜(ぬ)かないと気(き)が済(す)まないです。
    I can't have peace of mind until I finish something completely, no matter what happens.
Alternatively, 抜(ぬ)く may be used in situations where (A) is something that is done to a very deep or substantial degree. This nuance is less like 'to pull through', and closer to 'thoroughly', or simply 'deeply'. This meaning tends to appear with verbs that don't have an obvious end, like 知(し)る 'to know'.
  • 考(かんが)え抜(ぬ)いた結果(けっか)、俺(おれ)は大学(だいがく)を中退(ちゅうたい)して親父(おやじ)の会社(かいしゃ)を継(つ)ぐことにした。
    After thoroughly thinking about it, I decided to drop out of college and take over my father's company.
  • 田中(たなか)師匠(ししょう)は俳句(はいく)の事(こと)なら知(し)り抜(ぬ)いている。
    Master Tanaka is all-knowing when it comes to haiku.
Despite this nuance seeming different, the verb with 抜(ぬ)く attached to it in these types of sentences is usually considered to have already been done to a 'finished' degree, where there is nothing left beyond that point. With the example of 'to know', it would mean 'to know every single little detail'.
Caution - On most occasions, ぬく will be used when there is some hardship or adversity associated with the action. Also, unlike きる, ぬく will almost always be used in relation to human actions. きる on the other hand may be used in relation to either human actions or other events equally as naturally.
  • この洗濯機(せんたっき)ではこの量(りょう)の洗濯物(せんたくもの)は洗(あら)いぬけない。
    This washing machine cannot completely wash this amount of laundry.
  • この洗濯機(せんたっき)ではこの量(りょう)の洗濯物(せんたくもの)は洗(あら)い切(き)れない。
    This washing machine cannot completely wash this amount of laundry.
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チームは、たとえ試合(しあい)に勝(か)っても準決勝(じゅんけっしょう)進出(しんしゅつ)は不可能(ふかのう)と知(し)りつつも、最後(さいご)まで頑張(がんば)ぬいた
The team, despite knowing it was impossible to advance to the semifinals even if they won, fought to the bitter end.
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勇者(ゆうしゃ)は、魔王(まおう)の計画(けいかく)を見(み)抜(ぬ)いたからには、それをはばむことにした。
Because the hero saw through the plan of the devil king, he decided to put a stop to it.
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研究(けんきゅう)には長(なが)い年月(としつき)がかかったが、彼(かれ)は耐(た)抜(ぬ)き、自身(じしん)の仮説(かせつ)を実証(じっしょう)した。
The research took years, but he overcame adversities and proved his hypothesis.
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