Translation guide
The English word "move" covers a wide range of meanings, from physical relocation to emotional impact. This guide breaks down the most common uses for learners and provides natural Japanese equivalents.
Expressing that something or someone changes place or posture.
General intransitive verb for moving, shifting, or being in motion. Used for objects, body parts, and abstract things like situations.
あの車が動かない。
That car won't move.
歯が動いている気がする。
I feel like my tooth is moving.
Transitive verb meaning to move something. Use this when you are the agent causing movement.
机を右に動かしてください。
Please move the desk to the right.
彼は指を動かせなかった。
He couldn't move his fingers.
More formal or technical term for moving from one place to another. Often used for travel, relocation of objects, or data transfer.
次の会議室に移動しましょう。
Let's move to the next meeting room.
データを新しいサーバーに移動する。
Move the data to a new server.
To shift slightly out of position, slip, or be off alignment. Not for intentional movement.
眼鏡がずれた。
My glasses moved (out of place).
Talking about changing where you live or work.
The standard verb for moving house or office. Implies packing up and changing address.
来月、東京に引っ越します。
I'm moving to Tokyo next month.
隣の部屋に引っ越してきた人は親切だ。
The person who moved in next door is kind.
Formal term for moving residence, often used in official notices.
転居のお知らせを送る。
Send a notice of moving.
Describing something that touches the heart or stirs feelings.
To be moved emotionally, touched, or impressed. Often used for art, stories, or kind acts.
その映画に深く感動した。
I was deeply moved by that movie.
彼のスピーチは聴衆を感動させた。
His speech moved the audience.
Onomatopoeic expression for being touched or feeling a warm, choked-up sensation. Casual.
ラストシーンでジーンときた。
I got all choked up at the last scene.
Initiating action, advancing a plan, or making a decision.
Also used metaphorically for taking action, making a move, or a situation changing.
そろそろ動き出す時だ。
It's time to make a move.
交渉がようやく動き始めた。
The negotiations have finally started moving.
To take action, behave, or act. More deliberate than 動く.
考えるだけでなく、行動しなければならない。
We must not just think, but move (act).
Idiom meaning to take measures or make a move (literally 'strike a hand'). Often in business or strategy.
Shifting one's viewpoint, position, or attitude.
Intransitive verb for changing. Used when someone's opinion or feeling shifts.
彼の考え方はもう変わらない。
He won't move (change his mind) anymore.
Transitive verb for changing something, like one's stance or policy.
Specifically to change one's attitude or stance.
彼は急に態度を変えた。
He suddenly moved (changed his attitude).
Making a formal suggestion or motion.
Standard phrase for 'to move (a motion)' in formal meetings.
彼は休会の動議を出した。
He moved to adjourn the meeting.
General verb for proposing or suggesting, less formal than 動議を出す.
新しい計画を提案します。
I move (propose) a new plan.
Taking a turn in board games, sports, etc.
Used specifically for moving pieces in shogi, chess, or go.
次はあなたが指す番です。
It's your turn to move.
Used for moves in go or sometimes in other games (like playing a card).
彼は妙手を打った。
He made a brilliant move.
General term for moving a piece in any game.
Using 動く (ugoku) to mean moving to a new home is incorrect. Always use 引っ越す (hikkosu) for changing residence.
動く is general movement, often smaller scale. 移動する implies relocation from point A to B, often used in formal or technical contexts.
When you want to say a movie or story moved you, 感動する is the most natural choice. 心を動かす is more literal but less common in daily speech.
車を動かしてもらえますか？
Could you move your car?
来週引っ越します。
We're moving next week.
その話に感動して涙が出た。
The story moved me to tears.
Literally 'move the heart', a more direct translation of 'move' in emotional sense. Slightly literary.
彼女の言葉に心を動かされた。
I was moved by her words.
We need to make a move quickly or it'll be bad.
The government should move (change) its policy.
駒を動かす。
Move a piece.