How to say "bow" in Japanese

• 弓ゆみJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe weapon: the archer's bow used to shoot arrows. When 'bow' means this weapon — not a gesture, a bend, or a ship's front — this is the word you want.
• 曲げるまげるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbA verb: to bend, crook, or curve something. Its 'bow' is the physical act of bending — bowing the head or body — not the courteous greeting, which is お辞儀.
• ボーCommon
  nounThe English loanword for the weapon, written in katakana. It covers the same sense as 弓, so unless the borrowed term is specifically wanted, 弓 is the word to use for the weapon.
• 船首せんしゅCommon
  nounStrictly nautical: the bow of a boat or ship — its front end, also called the prow. It has nothing to do with the weapon, the gesture, or bending.
  ジブの裏うら帆ほとラダーを使つかって、バックしながら船首せんしゅを進すすみたい方向ほうこうに向むけました。↗

  Using the rudder and the jib with the wind behind it we backed up, turning the bow to the direction we wanted to go.
• お辞儀おじぎJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe bow as a gesture: the act of bowing to greet, thank, or apologize. It is itself polite (teineigo) language, and for the courteous 'bow' this is the word.
  どの子こも先生せんせいにお辞儀じぎした。↗

  Every child bowed to the teacher.

'Bow' splits cleanly by sense: the weapon is 弓 (or the loanword 「ボー」), the courteous gesture is 「お辞儀」, the act of bending is 「曲げる」, and the front of a ship is 船首.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 弓ゆみbow (weapon)
• 曲げるまげるto bend
• ボーbow (weapon)
• 船首せんしゅbow (of a boat)
• お辞儀おじぎbow
• 敬礼けいれいsalute
• 弓きゅうbow (and arrow)
• 辞儀じぎbow
• バウbow (of boat)
• 拝するはいするto bow
• 舳先へさきbow (of a ship)
• 艦首かんしゅbow (of a warship)
• 蝶結びちょうむすびbow
• 大弓だいきゅうbow
• 艇首ていしゅbow (of a boat)
• 頭を下げるあたまをさげるto bow
• 舳じくbow (of a ship)
• 屈まるかがまるto bow (of one's back, e.g. due to age)
• 拝すはいすto bow
• 蝶々結びちょうちょむすびbow
• たわめるto bend (a piece of wood, etc.)
• 腰をかがめるこしをかがめるto bend forward
• 礼れいbow (i.e. bending of the body)
• お礼おれいbow
• つるbow
• 艫ろbow
• ボーゲンbow (for stringed instruments)