Translation guide
The English word 'drive' covers many meanings, from operating a vehicle to motivating someone. This guide breaks down the most common uses for learners.
To control and steer a car, bus, truck, etc.
The standard verb for driving a vehicle. Focuses on the act of operating the controls.
I drive a car every day.
He is driving a truck.
Implies driving for leisure or a trip, not just the mechanical act. Often used for going for a drive.
Let's drive to the beach this weekend.
Means 'to ride' or 'to get on'. Can sometimes be used for driving when the focus is on being in the vehicle, but 運転する is clearer for the act of driving.
Not a direct equivalent for 'drive'; use 運転する when you mean operating the vehicle.
I get in the car. (Not 'I drive the car' unless context implies it.)
To transport a person to a destination using a vehicle.
To push, propel, or compel movement in a particular direction.
To drive away, force out, or corner someone/something. Often used for driving people into a situation.
He drove the enemy into a corner.
To spur on, urge, or drive someone to action, often with a sense of pressure or compulsion.
To drive into a corner or a difficult situation. Similar to 追いやる but often implies a more confined space or dead end.
The inner urge or energy to achieve something.
Will, motivation, drive. A common noun for the desire to do something.
He has a drive for work.
a driven student
Motivation, willingness, get-up-and-go. More casual and commonly used in daily conversation.
Driving force, propulsion. More formal and often used in business or technical contexts.
A planned group activity to achieve something, like a fundraising drive.
To hit something with force to make it go into something else.
A storage device in a computer.
Loanword for computer drive. Used for hard drives, USB drives, etc.
external hard drive
A private road leading to a house or garage.
ドライブする is only for leisurely driving. For operating a vehicle, use 運転する. For forcing movement, use 追いやる etc. Using ドライブ in other contexts will sound unnatural.
運転する focuses on the skill/act of driving. ドライブする implies a trip for enjoyment. Compare: 毎日運転する (I drive every day) vs. 週末にドライブする (I go for a drive on weekends).
Poverty drove him to crime.
Curiosity drove him to explore.
彼を窮地に追い込んだ。
They drove him into a corner.
I have no drive lately.
I'm full of drive.
He is the driving force of the team.
I participate in a blood donation drive.
a sales drive for a new product
杭を地面に突き刺した。
He drove a stake into the ground.
The C drive is running out of space.
ホテルの車寄せで待つ。
Wait at the hotel driveway.