叩く
たたく · tataku · JLPT N3 · verb-godan
to strike
🥁 ta-ta-ku sounds like tat-tat, the noise of knuckles knocking on a door
Say it aloud: ta-ta-ku has the rhythm of quick knocking or a drumbeat. The kanji 叩 puts 口 (mouth, an opening) beside 卩 (a kneeling person), a person bowing at an entrance and knocking. Watch out: 叩く is used for drums, doors and shoulders.
はたく · hataku · JLPT N1 · verb-godan
to strike
🥋 叩 = knock/strike; はたく sounds like 'ha-ta-ku', a hard HATCH-tuck: whack it, then dust it off
Compound-free kanji: 叩 is a hand (口 plus 攵 'strike'), so every sense is a hit: slapping dust off clothes, clapping hands, beating a rug. Say 'hot tuck' and smack.