Japanese word

動く

Pronunciation

Romajiugoku

Meaning

  • verbmove

Example

車が動きます。kuruma ga ugo ki ma su

The car moves.

Illustration for 動く (move)

More examples

犬が動きます。inu ga ugo ki ma su

The dog moves.

この時計は電池を替えると、また動きます。ko no tokei wa den chi o ka e ru to ma ta ugo ki ma su

This clock works again when I replace the battery.

Core concept

Expresses motion or a change from a fixed condition, including the shift from being still to being in operation.

Common phrases

  • 正常に動くsei jō ni ugo ku

    work properly

  • 自由に動くji yū ni ugo ku

    move freely

  • 電池で動くden chi de ugo ku

    run on batteries

Similar words

移るutsuru: To shift from one place, position, or condition to another.
働くhataraku: To function or perform its intended action.
進むsusumu: To move forward toward a place or goal.

Definition in Japanese

人や物が止まった状態から位置や状態を変える。また、機械などが作動する。hito ya mono ga to ma tta jō tai ka ra i chi ya jō tai o ka e ru ma ta ki kai na do ga sa dō su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 動く (ugoku) uses 動 (dō, "move") as a meaning-based kanji, and its reading ugoku comes from Japanese rather than Chinese.

Usage tips

  • 動く (ugoku) applies to machines as well as people, so a clock can 動く when it runs even though it does not travel from place to place.

Other meanings

  • workverb
  • shakeverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word