English–Japanese
“back and forth” in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Romajizengo
Example
いすを前後に動かします。i su o zen go ni ugo ka shi ma su
I move the chair back and forth.
How to say “back and forth” in Japanese
“Back and forth” in Japanese is 前後 (zengo).
Marks the two sides or directions on either side of a reference point, allowing it to describe movement between them or positions and times before and after it.
Example sentences with 前後
ブランコが前後に揺れています。bu ra n ko ga zen go ni yu re te i ma su
The swing is rocking back and forth.
Tips for using 前後
- In conversation, 前後 (zengo) can describe movement between front and back positions, while 前後して (zengo shite) can mean "around that time," so context distinguishes motion from time.