Translation guide
Describes moving on hands and knees, like a baby or animal. Japanese uses specific verbs and mimetic words depending on the nuance.
The physical action of crawling with hands and knees on the ground.
General verb for crawling, creeping, or moving along a surface on all fours or with the body close to the ground. Can be used for babies, insects, and people.
The baby is crawling on the floor.
彼は怪我をして、這って家に帰った。
He was injured and crawled home.
Literally 'to get on all fours'. Emphasizes the posture of being on hands and knees, often used when someone intentionally assumes that position.
床を拭くために四つん這いになった。
I got down on all fours to wipe the floor.
To move forward while on all fours. Combines the posture with movement.
狭い洞窟を四つん這いで進んだ。
We crawled through the narrow cave on all fours.
To crawl around, often implying moving about in a crawling manner over an area. Can have a negative nuance of creeping about.
子供たちが部屋中を這い回っている。
The kids are crawling all over the room.
Describing the cute or clumsy crawling motion, often used for babies or small animals.
Onomatopoeic/mimetic word for a baby's crawl. Often used as a noun or suru-verb for the baby's crawling stage.
うちの子はもうハイハイができる。
Our baby can already crawl.
赤ちゃんがハイハイしている。
The baby is crawling (on all fours).
Moving on all fours in an animal-like manner, often for play or imitation.
Literally 'walk on four legs'. Used for animals or when a person imitates an animal.
犬は四つ足で歩く。
Dogs walk on all fours.
子供が四つ足で歩く真似をした。
The child pretended to walk on all fours.
這う (hau) is the general verb for crawling and can refer to any creeping motion, including on all fours or dragging the body. 四つん這い (yotsunbai) specifically means the posture of being on hands and knees. Use 這う for the action, and 四つん這い when emphasizing the posture.
For babies, ハイハイ (haihai) is the most natural and common way to say 'crawling on all fours'. It's a cute, mimetic word understood by all Japanese speakers.