How to say "crawl" in Japanese

• 這うはうJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThis is the verb for the physical action of crawling: to move on all fours or creep slowly along, as a baby does across the floor or an insect along a wall.
  赤ん坊あかんぼうは歩あるく前まえにはう。↗

  Babies crawl before they walk.
• クロールCommon
  nounThis word names the swimming stroke only: the front crawl, as swum in pools and races. It is not used for crawling on the ground; for that sense use 這う.
  クロールできる？↗

  Can you do the crawl?

Choose 「這う」 when crawl means moving on all fours or creeping along the ground, and 「クロール」 when it names the swimming stroke, the front crawl.

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

• 這うはうto crawl
• クロールcrawl (swimming)
• いざるto shuffle (on one's bottom or knees)
• 這いずるはいずるto creep
• はって行くはっていくto creep