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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
I leaned over to pick up the fallen pen.
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.
Don't lean over the railing.
She leaned over to whisper in his ear.
She leaned over sideways to pick up something under the shelf.
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.
The audience leaned over to see the stage.