Translation guide
A quick closing and opening of one eye, often as a signal or gesture. In Japanese, the most common way to express this is with the noun ウインク or the verb ウインクする. There are also native Japanese expressions for winking or blinking, but they are less common for the social gesture.
A deliberate wink used to signal shared understanding, flirtation, or a joke.
The most common and natural way to refer to a wink in Japanese. Used as a noun or with する to mean 'to wink'.
He winked at me.
The wink was a secret signal.
Literally 'to close one eye'. Can mean a wink, but is more descriptive and less idiomatic for the social gesture. Often used when the wink is not necessarily a signal.
He mischievously closed one eye (winked).
Refers to making eye signals, including winking, but more broadly means exchanging meaningful glances. Less specific than ウインク.
She gave me a meaningful look (could include a wink).
A quick closing of one eye that is not a deliberate signal, such as from a tic or dust.
Means 'blink' (both eyes). Not specifically a wink, but used when describing a quick involuntary eye closure. To specify one eye, add 片目の.
I can't stop winking (one eye blinking involuntarily).
Even for involuntary winks, ウインク is often used, especially in casual speech.
A metaphorical wink, such as 'a wink of sleep' or 'in the wink of an eye'.
Means 'an instant' or 'a moment'. Used in phrases like 'in the wink of an eye'.
It disappeared in the wink of an eye.
Literally 'in the time it takes to blink'. A more literal translation of 'in the wink of an eye'.
It was over in the wink of an eye.
The English word 'wink' specifically means closing one eye. The Japanese word まばたき means blinking (both eyes). Use ウインク or 片目をつぶる to be clear about a one-eyed wink.
緊張すると無意識にウインクしてしまう。
When I'm nervous, I unconsciously wink.