吸い取る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 吸い取る (すいとる) is a transitive verb meaning to suck up, draw out, or absorb dust, liquid, or another substance.
• Basic usage: It is used when a vacuum removes dust or a cloth absorbs water.
  • 掃除機で隙間のほこりを吸い取った。 — I vacuumed dust from the crevice.
  • 乾いた布がこぼれた水を吸い取ってくれた。 — A dry cloth absorbed the spilled water.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Sucking up and absorbing
  • 吸い取る covers both suction by a device and absorption by a material such as cloth; the substance removed is marked with を.