Japanese word

担ぐ

Pronunciation

Romajikatsugu

Meaning

  • verbcarry on one's shoulder

Example

弟を担ぎます。otōto o katsu gi ma su

I carry my younger brother on my shoulder.

Illustration for 担ぐ (carry on one's shoulder)

More examples

祭りでは、若者たちが重い神輿を担ぎます。matsu ri de wa waka mono ta chi ga omo i mikoshi o katsu gi ma su

At the festival, young people carry a heavy portable shrine on their shoulders.

Core concept

Describes moving a person or load while supporting it on the shoulder.

Common phrases

  • 荷物を担ぐni motsu o katsu gu

    carry luggage on one's shoulder

  • 米俵を担ぐkome dawara o katsu gu

    carry a rice bag on one's shoulder

  • 神輿を担ぐmikoshi o katsu gu

    carry a portable shrine on one's shoulder

Similar words

背負うseou: To carry a person or load on the back.
荷うninau: To carry a load on the shoulder, often in formal or literary language.
担うninau: To carry a person or load on the shoulders, often in formal or figurative language.

Definition in Japanese

人や荷物を肩に載せて運ぶ。hito ya ni motsu o kata ni no se te hako bu

Word origin

担ぐ (katsugu) is an old native Japanese verb rather than a Sino-Japanese compound, and its original formation is not securely known; 担 (tan, "to shoulder a load") provides its written sense.

Usage tips

  • Japanese festival descriptions often use 担ぐ (katsugu) for carrying a 神輿 (mikoshi), a portable shrine, on participants' shoulders.

Related words

  • 担ぎ手katsugitecarriernoun

Word lists with this word