Translation guide
The English word "movements" can refer to physical motions, organized social or political campaigns, changes in position or location, and more. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Describing the act of moving one's body or parts of it, or the way someone moves.
General term for movement, motion, or activity. Can refer to physical movements, changes, or trends.
His movements are very quick.
The dancer's movements are beautiful.
Refers to physical actions or motions, often used in technical or formal contexts like sports, robotics, or user interfaces.
Program the robot's movements.
Specifically gestures or body language, often used with 手振り (てぶり) as 身振り手振り.
He explained with gestures.
Referring to groups of people working together to achieve a social or political goal.
Describing the act of moving from one place to another, or the process of being moved.
Movement from one place to another; transfer, migration, travel.
Population movements are concentrated in urban areas.
Troop movements were confirmed.
Can also be used for changes in position, especially in more abstract or figurative senses.
Referring to the excretion of feces, often in medical or polite contexts.
Medical/formal term for bowel movement or defecation.
Please record the frequency of your bowel movements.
Polite, everyday term for bowel movement, often used in conversation.
Medical term for bowel habits or movements.
Referring to a self-contained part of a musical composition.
A movement in a symphony, sonata, etc.
This symphony consists of four movements.
While 動き (ugoki) can mean movement in a physical sense, it is not used for organized social or political movements. Use 運動 (undō) instead.
environmental movement
運動 (undō) implies a more organized, often larger-scale movement with a specific goal. 活動 (katsudō) refers to activities or activism and can be used for smaller, less formal groups or individual efforts.
The civil rights movement changed history.
学生たちの平和活動が広がっている。
The students' peace movement is spreading.
株価の動きに注目している。
I'm watching the movements of stock prices.
最近お通じがありません。
I haven't had a bowel movement recently.
便通が不規則です。
My bowel movements are irregular.