羽はばたく

は

ば

た

く

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

羽ばたく · godan verb (-ku)

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

flap wings

Describes a bird or insect moving its wings up and down, especially when taking off or hovering.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

Figurative use: a person leaves a familiar environment to seek new opportunities or independence. Often used in encouraging contexts.

〈鳥とり〉が羽はばたくa bird flaps its wings
鳥とりが羽はばたいて木きから飛とび立たった。
The bird flapped its wings and took off from the tree.
大おおきく羽はばたくto boldly spread one's wings (venture out into the world)
彼かの女じょは大おおきく羽はばたいて世せ界かいへ飛とび出だした。
She boldly spread her wings and went out into the world.
〈場ば所しょ〉で羽はばたくto go out and thrive in (a place)
卒そつ業ぎょう後ごは海かい外がいで羽はばたきたいと思おもっている。
After graduation, I want to go out and make my mark overseas.

飛とび立たつ sense 1
飛び立つ focuses on the moment of launching into flight, while 羽ばたく emphasizes the up-and-down wing motion itself.
活かつ躍やくN3sense 2
活躍する is a plain, everyday way to say someone is thriving or excelling, while 羽ばたく paints a more poetic image of spreading one's wings into new opportunities.
独どく立りつN3sense 2
独立する neutrally means becoming independent, whereas 羽ばたく is a figurative, uplifting expression for leaving the nest to seek new horizons.

羽はばたくUsage59%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
はばたくUsage32%
羽搏はばたくUsage7%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners are unlikely to encounter it.
羽撃はばたくUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners are unlikely to encounter it.
翔はばたくUsage1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not a standard spelling.

Compound of 羽 (は, 'wing') + ばたく, where ばたく is a voiced form of はたく ('to flap, beat'). The voicing (rendaku) is regular for such compounds.