Translation guide
The English word 'hop' covers several distinct actions and concepts. This guide breaks them down into practical meanings for learners, from physical jumping to quick trips and informal events.
Describe a small, quick jump, often playful or light.
General verb for hopping, jumping, or bouncing. Used for animals, children, or light jumps.
The children are hopping in the garden.
A rabbit hops.
Specifically means to hop on one foot. Use when you need to be precise.
He played hopping on one foot.
Onomatopoeic phrase for hopping lightly and repeatedly, like a rabbit or a child.
The frog is hopping around.
Express going somewhere quickly and briefly, often informally.
Very common casual phrase meaning 'go quickly' or 'pop over'. Works for most short trips.
I'll hop to the convenience store.
Means 'stop by' or 'drop in'. Implies a brief visit on the way to somewhere else.
Literally 'fly and go', used figuratively for rushing or hopping over quickly. Slightly dramatic.
I'll hop right over!
Describe boarding or leaving a bus, train, taxi, etc., in a light, informal way.
Simple verb for 'get on'. Use with context to imply a quick, casual action.
I hopped on the bus and got off at the next station.
Literally 'jump on', used for quickly boarding a moving or departing vehicle.
Adverbial phrase emphasizing a light, effortless hop onto something.
He hopped onto the truck.
Refer to an informal dance party, often from mid-20th century American culture.
Describe a brief airplane trip or a leg of travel.
Describe the characteristic movement of certain animals.
The loanword ホップ is mainly used for beer hops or as part of compound words like ホップアップ (pop-up). For the action of hopping, use native verbs like 跳ねる or 跳ぶ.
跳ねる (はねる) implies a light, bouncy hop, often repeated. 跳ぶ (とぶ) is a more general jump or leap. For 'hop on one foot', use 片足で跳ぶ (かたあしでとぶ).
I'll hop by the supermarket on my way home.
電車に飛び乗った。
I hopped on the train (just as it was leaving).
They recreated a 1950s sock hop.