Translation guide
The English word "fly" covers many distinct meanings: moving through air (birds, insects, planes), traveling by air, piloting an aircraft, moving quickly, fleeing, and even a type of insect or a zipper flap. This guide breaks down these meanings and gives natural Japanese equivalents.
To move through the air using wings or similar means.
The most common verb for flying. Used for birds, insects, airplanes, etc. Intransitive.
鳥が空を飛んでいる。
A bird is flying in the sky.
A fly is flying around the room.
To fly around, flutter about. Emphasizes movement in various directions.
Butterflies are flying around the flowers.
To go somewhere by airplane.
To control and operate an aircraft.
To go or move very fast.
Literally 'fly and go', used for rushing off somewhere.
He flew off as soon as he heard the news.
To rush to the scene, to hurry to a place. Often used in emergencies.
Can mean to speed, to make something go fast (e.g., a car).
To run away from danger or a situation.
The common insect of the order Diptera.
The flap covering the zipper or buttons on the front of trousers.
A piece of cloth with a design, used as a symbol or for decoration.
General word for flag. Note: 'fly' as a verb for a flag is '掲げる' (かかげる) or '翻る' (ひるがえる).
The national flag is flying in the wind.
When talking about traveling by airplane, using '飛ぶ' alone can sound unnatural. It's better to use '飛行機で行く' or '空路で行く'.
I'm flying to Paris next month.
飛ぶ (とぶ) is intransitive (something flies). 飛ばす (とばす) is transitive (someone flies something). Use 飛ばす for piloting or making something fly.
Time flies.
A proverb meaning 'time flies like an arrow'. More common in everyday speech: 時間が経つのは早い (じかんがたつのははやい).
He often flies abroad.
He flies a fighter jet.
The ambulance flew to the scene.
He flew down the highway.
I forgot to zip up my fly.