Translation guide
The English word "blowing" can refer to the action of moving air from the mouth, wind moving, or things being moved by air. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these meanings.
Expressing the action of exhaling forcefully through the mouth, such as blowing out candles, blowing on hot food, or blowing a whistle.
The most common verb for blowing air from the mouth. Used for blowing out candles, blowing on hot food, blowing a whistle, etc.
blow out a candle
blow on hot soup to cool it down
Literally 'to blow breath onto something'. Used when you want to emphasize the act of blowing gently, like on a window to fog it up or on a wound.
blow on the window glass to fog it up
To blow into something, like blowing air into a balloon or inflating something.
Describing the movement of wind or air currents.
The standard verb for wind blowing. Can be used for breezes, strong winds, etc.
Describing objects being carried or moved by the wind, like leaves blowing in the wind or hair blowing.
Passive form meaning 'to be blown away by the wind'. Used for lightweight objects like paper, hats, etc.
The specific action of blowing your nose into a tissue.
The standard expression for blowing your nose. Literally 'to blow one's nose'.
I blew my nose with a tissue.
Playing a wind instrument by blowing into it.
Used for playing wind instruments like flute, trumpet, etc.
Causing something to explode or be destroyed by an explosion.
In English, we say 'blow your nose', but in Japanese, the verb is かむ, not 吹く. Saying 鼻を吹く would be incorrect and confusing.
Both mean 'blown by the wind', but 風で飛ばされる emphasizes the cause (wind as the agent), while 風に飛ばされる is more literary and personifies the wind. In everyday speech, 風で飛ばされる is more common.
風船に空気を吹き込む
blow air into a balloon
風が強く吹いている
The wind is blowing strongly.
A gentle breeze is blowing.
Describes a violent windstorm or gale blowing fiercely.
The wind blew fiercely due to the typhoon.
My hat was blown away by the wind.
Means 'to sway in the wind'. Used for things that are attached but move, like leaves, branches, or hair.
The leaves are blowing (swaying) in the wind.
Describes something streaming or fluttering in the wind, like hair, flags, or curtains.
Her hair is blowing in the wind.
彼はトランペットを吹いている
He is blowing the trumpet.
General verb for playing a musical instrument. More formal than 吹く.
play the flute
To blow away or blast away. Can be used for explosions or strong winds.
The building was blown away by the explosion.