Translation guide
The English verb "jump" covers a wide range of actions and figurative uses. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is jumping, how, and in what context. This guide organizes the most common meanings and their natural Japanese equivalents.
To push oneself off the ground using one's legs, often over something or onto something.
General verb for jumping, leaping, or springing. Used for people and animals. Often implies a dynamic, energetic jump.
The child jumped over the puddle.
猫が塀の上に跳び上がった。
The cat jumped up onto the fence.
To jump around repeatedly, hop, or skip. Emphasizes a series of small jumps, often out of excitement.
子供たちが公園で飛び跳ねている。
The children are jumping around in the park.
Formal or literary term for a leap or bound. Used in sports commentary or descriptive writing.
選手は見事な跳躍を見せた。
The athlete showed a magnificent jump.
To leap from a higher place to a lower one, often with a sense of dropping.
To jump down from a height. Commonly used for jumping off a platform, stage, or vehicle.
彼はバスから飛び降りた。
He jumped off the bus.
猫が屋根から飛び降りた。
The cat jumped down from the roof.
Variant kanji for 飛び降りる, same meaning and reading.
To leap into a body of water, such as a pool, river, or sea.
To jump or dive into something, especially water. Also used figuratively for plunging into a situation.
彼はプールに飛び込んだ。
He jumped into the pool.
To make a sudden involuntary movement because of shock or fright.
To jump up or start in surprise. Literally 'jump up', used for a startled reaction.
大きな音に飛び上がった。
I jumped at the loud noise.
To flinch or startle; a sudden, small jump from surprise or fear. More about the flinch than the physical jump.
急に肩を叩かれてびくっとした。
I jumped when someone suddenly tapped my shoulder.
To leap across an obstacle or gap.
To jump over or leap across. Used for physical obstacles like fences, puddles, or hurdles.
犬が柵を跳び越えた。
The dog jumped over the fence.
Similar to 跳び越える, but can also mean to skip over or omit something in a sequence.
To form an opinion or decision hastily without enough information.
To jump to a conclusion; to assume something prematurely. Literally 'quick agreement/understanding'.
まだ決まっていないのに、早合点しないでください。
Please don't jump to conclusions; nothing has been decided yet.
To make a hasty mistake or misjudgment; to jump to a wrong conclusion.
彼は早とちりして、怒ってしまった。
He jumped to the wrong conclusion and got angry.
To move ahead of others waiting in line unfairly.
To cut in line; to jump the queue. General verb for forcing one's way into a line or crowd.
列に割り込まないでください。
Please don't jump the queue.
To eagerly accept or seize a chance.
To jump at (an offer, chance); to snatch eagerly. Literally 'jump and cling to'.
彼はその申し出に飛びついた。
He jumped at the offer.
跳ぶ (とぶ) is used for jumping/leaping (using legs), while 飛ぶ (とぶ) is used for flying (through air). However, in some contexts 飛ぶ can be used for jumping when the focus is on moving through the air, e.g., 空中に飛ぶ (jump into the air). For most physical jumps, 跳ぶ is preferred.
English uses 'jump' in many phrasal verbs and idioms that do not translate directly. For example, 'jump start' is ジャンプスタート, 'jump rope' is 縄跳び (なわとび), and 'jump the gun' is フライングする or 早まる. Always consider the specific meaning before choosing a Japanese equivalent.
彼はバスから飛び下りた。
He jumped off the bus.
He jumped over the puddle.