How to say "action" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 行動こうどうsuru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveAction as what a person does: deeds, conduct, behaviour. This is the word you want for people's actions and for 'taking action', rather than for physical movement or activity in general.
- 活動かつどうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbAction thought of as ongoing activity: a person, organization, animal or even a volcano being active or operating. Choose it for sustained doings rather than a single act.
- nounThe loanword, used where English 'action' itself would appear, especially in film and entertainment contexts and in phrases borrowed from English. For everyday talk about what someone did, a native word is the safer choice.
- 作用さようnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbAction in the sense of an effect or operation: the action of a drug, chemical or force working on something. Seldom the word for human action — it really belongs to physical, chemical and physiological processes.
- 動作どうさnounAction as visible movement: the motions, gestures and movements of a body or a machine. Use it for how something moves or operates physically, not for deeds or conduct in general.
Use 行動 for a person's deeds or taking action, 活動 for ongoing activity, 動作 for physical movements, 作用 for the action of forces or chemicals, and 「アクション」 for the loanword in film and borrowed phrases.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 行動こうどうaction
- 活動かつどうactivity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.)
- アクションaction
- 作用さようaction
- 動作どうさmovement (of the body)
- 措置そちmeasure
- 実戦じっせんcombat
- 行いおこないdeed
- 仕草しぐさgesture
- 仕業しわざdeed (esp. negative)
- 営みいとなみactivity
- 所業しょぎょうact (usu. undesirable)
- 実行じっこうexecution (e.g. of a plan)
- 仕打ちしうち(poor) treatment
- 挙きょaction
- 訴訟そしょうlawsuit
- 真似まねbehavior
- 行こうact
- 活かつaction
- 働きはたらきaction
See also
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