How to use 各 (kaku): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide

3 hitmen

かくヒットマンはターゲットの写真しゃしんっている。
Each hitman has a photo of their target.

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The word 各, pronounced “kaku,” is all about sayin’ “each” or “every.” Think of it like you’re the Godfather, and you’re givin’ out orders to your capos. You ain’t talkin’ to just one dude; you’re talkin’ to each and every one of ’em. It’s about singling out every individual in a group. It’s the difference between sayin’ “Y’all better pay up” and lookin’ each wiseguy in the eye and sayin’, “You, you, and you… each of you better have my money.” It adds that personal, direct-threat kinda flavor. You feel me?


Peep this. Here’s how you hook up 各 with other words. It’s mad simple, no cap.

Word TypeHow it ConnectsExampleEnglish
Noun各 + Noun各組かくくみ Each crew/gang

Basically, you just slap 各 right in front of the noun you’re talkin’ about. It’s a prefix, ya dig? It attaches to the front of a word like a grill on a rapper’s teeth. It don’t change, it don’t conjugate, it just posts up in the front, lookin’ fresh. So if you’re talkin’ about your homies, it’s 各人 (kakujin – each person). If you’re talkin’ about the different hoods your crew runs, it’s 各地 (kakuchi – each area). Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.


It’s like this: you got your whole crew, your whole squad. But when you use 各, it’s like you’re putting a spotlight on every single member of that crew. You’re not addressin’ the mob; you’re addressin’ the individuals in the mob. It’s how a boss makes sure everyone knows the deal. No one gets to hide in the crowd.


Ayo, here’s some new vocabulary to keep your game tight.

ようぎしゃ (Yougisha)

English: Suspect.

Aight, check it. A “yougisha” is the person the Five-O are lookin’ at, the one they think did the dirt. They ain’t been convicted, ain’t been proven guilty, but they’re on the radar, you feel me? The whole neighborhood might be whisperin’ their name, the feds might be tappin’ their phone, but for now, they just a suspect. It’s that dude in the lineup, the one gettin’ grilled down at the station. He ain’t a convict yet, but he’s in the hot seat, for real.


しゅちょうする (Shuchou suru)

English: To claim; to assert; to insist.

Yo, “shuchou suru” is when you standin’ tall and speakin’ your truth, even when everyone else is tryna shut you down. It’s like a rapper in a battle, spittin’ his bars with mad conviction, makin’ sure his point gets across. You ain’t askin’, you’re tellin’. It’s that “I said what I said” energy. Whether you’re claimin’ your innocence to the jury or claimin’ your turf on the block, you’re layin’ it all out, no doubt.


だつごく (Datsugoku)

English: To escape from prison; jailbreak.

“Datsugoku” is the ultimate move, the grand escape, ya dig? We ain’t talkin’ about sneakin’ out for a smoke. This is some real Shawshank Redemption or Prison Break type action. Plannin’ for months, diggin’ tunnels, makin’ a dummy for your bed. It’s when a cat decides he ain’t doin’ that 25-to-life and makes a break for it. It’s high stakes, high risk, and if you get caught, it’s back to the slammer with more time on your plate. It’s the ultimate act of defiance against the system.


さぎし (Sagishi)

English: Con artist; swindler; grifter.

Listen up. A “sagishi” is a smooth talker, a player who gets what they want by playin’ with your head, not with a gat. They got that silver tongue that can sell ice to an Eskimo. Think of them cats from Goodfellas or American Hustle, always runnin’ a scheme, playin’ the long con. They ain’t about violence; they’re about finessin’ the system and your bank account. They’re masters of the hustle, the grift. You won’t even know you’ve been played ’til they’re long gone with your cash.


どくぼう (Dokubou)

English: Solitary confinement cell.

“Dokubou,” man, that’s the hole. The box. It’s where they throw you when you’re too wild for the main population in the joint. No talkin’, no homies, just you, four walls, and a toilet. It’s that ultimate punishment, designed to break your spirit. You’re locked down 23 hours a day, all by your lonesome. It’s that place you see in all the prison flicks where the hero gets sent to think about what he’s done. That’s the real hard time right there.


Check out how the real ones use this joint on the block.

かくギャングは自分じぶんのシマをっている。
Each gang has its own turf.

弁護士べんごしかく事件じけんのファイルを調しらべた。
The lawyer examined the file for each case.

ボスはかく部下ぶかにボーナスをやった。
The boss gave a bonus to each subordinate.

かく容疑ようぎしゃはアリバイを主張しゅちょうした。
Each suspect claimed to have an alibi.

かく刑務所けいむしょから脱獄だつごく報告ほうこくがあった。
There was a report of a breakout from each prison.

詐欺さぎかく被害ひがいしゃをだました。
The con artist tricked each victim.

かく証人しょうにんちがはなしをした。
Each witness told a different story.

我々われわれくみ各地かくち支部しぶがある。
Our crew has branches in every area.

強盗ごうとうかく金庫きんこからかねぬすんだ。
The robber stole money from each safe.

かく囚人しゅうじん独房どくぼうれられた。
Each prisoner was put in solitary confinement.


Aight, that’s the 4-1-1 on 各. Keep it real, practice your lines, and pretty soon you’ll be spittin’ Japanese like a true OG.

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