Translation guide
The act of moving one's hand or an object back and forth, often as a greeting, signal, or to attract attention. In Japanese, the expression depends on the context: casual hand-waving, beckoning, waving a flag, or swaying in the wind.
To move your hand side to side to say hello or goodbye.
The most common and neutral way to say 'wave one's hand'. Used for both greeting and farewell.
She waved with a smile.
I waved to my friend at the station.
Literally 'greet by waving one's hand'. Emphasizes the greeting aspect.
He greeted me by waving from a distance.
In many situations where English speakers would wave, Japanese people bow (お辞儀). Waving is common among friends or in casual settings, but bowing is more formal and traditional.
Japanese people often bow rather than wave.
To wave your hand towards yourself to signal someone to come closer.
Specifically means to beckon with a hand gesture. The palm faces down and fingers move towards the speaker, which is the opposite of the Western gesture.
The Japanese beckoning gesture is palm down, fingers waving towards yourself. The Western palm-up gesture may be misunderstood.
He beckoned me over.
A casual, often childish way to say 'beckon', literally 'do come-come'. Used with children or pets.
I beckoned the child over.
To move something back and forth in the air, like a flag or a fan.
Something moving back and forth by itself, like a flag in the wind or hair blowing.
Hair having a slight curl or wave.
手を振る is waving side-to-side for greeting or farewell. 手招きする is beckoning someone to come closer, with a different hand gesture (palm down, fingers moving towards yourself).
In Japan, the 'come here' gesture is done with the palm facing down and fingers waving towards the body. The Western palm-up gesture may be seen as rude or confusing.
The wind is waving the tree branches.
The flag is fluttering in the wind.
彼女の髪は波打っている。
Her hair is wavy.