How to say "drive" in Japanese

• ドライブJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for the leisure sense of 'drive': a trip by car for pleasure. Use it when inviting someone out, as in going for a drive in the countryside on the weekend.
  お昼ひるからちょっとドライブに行いきましょう。↗

  Let's take a short drive this afternoon.
• 推進すいしんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'drive' as propulsion or forward momentum: the force that drives a rocket or vehicle, or figuratively the push that drives a plan or campaign forward.
• やる気やるきCommon
  nounCovers 'drive' as personal motivation: the will or enthusiasm to do something. Typical context: work or study, where someone shows or lacks the drive to get things done.
  私にはガッツとやる気きがあります。↗

  I'm a person with guts and a strong will.
• 駆動くどうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers the technical sense: drive or driving force, what powers a machine or mechanism. Typical context: engineering and technical writing about how a device is driven.
• 追い込むおいこむJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the verb sense: to drive or herd animals by chasing them, corraling them into an enclosure. It is not the word for car trips, machinery, or motivation.

Choose 「ドライブ」 for a leisurely car trip, 「やる気」 for inner motivation, 推進 for propulsion or pushing a project forward, 駆動 for a machine's driving force, and 「追い込む」 for herding or driving animals in.

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

• ドライブdrive
• 推進すいしんpropulsion
• やる気やるきwill (to do something)
• 駆動くどうdrive
• 追い込むおいこむto herd
• 覇気はきspirit
• 気迫きはくspirit
• 進攻しんこうattack
• 意欲いよくwill
• 転がすころがすto roll
• 行程こうていjourney
• 意気地いくじself-respect
• 御するぎょするto drive (e.g. horse, carriage)
• 欲動よくどうdrive
• 駆動機くどうきdrive (engine)
• 動因どういんdrive
• 御すぎょすto drive (e.g. horse, carriage)
• 伝動でんどうtransmission (of motive power)
• 一走りひとはしり(short) run
• ひとっ走りひとっぱしり(short) run
• ハンドルを握るハンドルをにぎるto hold the steering wheel
• 駆動部くどうぶdrive unit
• 打ち付けるうちつけるto nail (to something)
• 行動力こうどうりょくability to take action
• 走るはしるto run (of a vehicle)
• 運動うんどうappeal
• キャンペーンcampaign (for an election, social change, etc.)
• 打ち込むうちこむto hit (a ball, etc.)
• 駆り立てるかりたてるto drive (cattle, sheep, etc.)
• 打ち出しうちだしserve (e.g. in tennis)
• 走らすはしらすto make go fast (a car, horse, etc.)
• 走らせるはしらせるto make go fast (a car, horse, etc.)
• 追うおうto drive (e.g. a herd)