Translation guide
To bend the upper body forward or to the side, often to look at something, reach for something, or speak to someone. Japanese uses different verbs depending on the direction and purpose.
The upper body bends forward, often while sitting or standing, to look at something below or to work on something.
General verb for bending forward or stooping. Can be used for leaning over to pick something up or to look at something.
彼は机の上にかがんで本を読んだ。
He leaned over the desk and read a book.
Literally 'to push one's body forward'. Used when leaning forward eagerly, such as to see something better or to listen intently.
彼は前の席に身を乗り出して話を聞いた。
He leaned over to the front seat to listen to the conversation.
To assume a forward-leaning posture. Often used for sitting or standing with a hunched forward posture.
長時間前かがみになっていると腰が痛くなる。
If you lean over for a long time, your back will hurt.
The body tilts sideways, often to see around something or to reach for something.
To tilt one's body. Used for leaning to the side, such as when trying to see past an obstacle.
彼は窓の外を見るために体を傾けた。
He leaned over to look out the window.
To bend sideways. More specific than 体を傾ける, implying a bending at the waist.
彼女は棚の下の物を取るために横にかがんだ。
She leaned over sideways to pick up something under the shelf.
To position oneself above someone or something, often to look at or speak to them from above.
To lean over and cover something with one's body, often in a protective or intrusive way. Can also mean to hang over.
母親が赤ちゃんに覆いかぶさって危険から守った。
The mother leaned over the baby to protect it from danger.
To lean heavily on or over, often with a sense of weight or pressure. Can be physical or metaphorical.
To bend forward or sideways specifically to see something, often with curiosity.
To peer into or look into something by leaning over. Implies looking closely or curiously.
子供たちは池を覗き込んで魚を探した。
The children leaned over the pond to look for fish.
To lean forward and look. Combines 身を乗り出す with 見る for explicit visual intent.
観客はステージを身を乗り出して見た。
The audience leaned over to see the stage.
かがむ is a general bending forward, often downward. 身を乗り出す implies an eager, forward-leaning motion, usually from a seated or standing position, to see or hear better.
落ちたペンを拾うためにかがんだ。
I leaned over to pick up the fallen pen.
彼は面白い話に身を乗り出した。
He leaned over eagerly at the interesting story.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'lean over'. Choose the verb based on direction (forward, sideways, hovering) and purpose (looking, reaching, protecting). Using かがむ for leaning sideways may sound unnatural.
手すりから身を乗り出さないでください。
Don't lean over the railing.
彼女は彼の耳にささやくために体を傾けた。
She leaned over to whisper in his ear.
彼は私の肩にのしかかるようにして画面を覗き込んだ。
He leaned over my shoulder to peer at the screen.