Japanese word

振る

Pronunciation

Romajifuru

Meaning

  • verbwave

Example

私は友達に手を振ります。watashi wa tomo dachi ni te o fu ri ma su

I wave to my friend.

Illustration for 振る (wave)

More examples

毎朝、先生に手を振ります。mai asa sen sei ni te o fu ri ma su

I wave to my teacher every morning.

返事の代わりに、彼は静かに首を振りました。hen ji no ka wa ri ni kare wa shizu ka ni kubi o fu ri ma shi ta

Instead of answering, he quietly shook his head.

Core concept

Describes moving something back and forth, often to signal someone, as in waving, shaking, or swinging it.

Common phrases

  • 手を振るte o fu ru

    wave one's hand

Similar words

揺らすyurasu: To make something move from side to side or up and down.
振り回すfurimawasu: To swing something around in wide movements.

Definition in Japanese

手や旗などを左右に動かして合図をする。te ya hata na do o sa yū ni ugo ka shi te ai zu o su ru

Word origin

振る (furu) is a native Japanese verb for moving something back and forth, with the signaling sense arising when the moving object is a hand or flag.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 手を振る (te o furu) covers both waving hello and waving goodbye, so the same verb appears with greetings and farewells.

Other meanings

  • shakeverb
  • swingverb

Related words

Word lists with this word