How to say "fly" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 飛ぶとぶgodan verb, intransitive verbThe verb for actual flight through the air: birds, insects, and aircraft all 飛ぶ. Use it whenever 'fly' means moving through the air.
- 掲げるかかげるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'fly' only in the flag sense: to fly, hoist, or hang out a flag, banner, or notice. It is never the verb for actual flight through the air.
- nounThe noun for the insect itself. When you talk about a fly buzzing around, this is the word; it is usually written in kana alone.
- 翔るかけるgodan verb, intransitive verbAnother verb for flying, with the nuance of soaring — sweeping or gliding through the sky. For ordinary flight through the air, 飛ぶ is the word to reach for.
- 飛球ひきゅうnounA baseball term: a fly ball, a batted ball that sails high into the air. It is a noun, so it never works for the verb 'to fly'.
Use 「飛ぶ」 for the basic act of flying, 「翔る」 for soaring flight, 「掲げる」 only for flying a flag, 「はえ」 for the insect, and 飛球 for a baseball fly ball.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 飛ぶとぶto fly
- 掲げるかかげるto put up (a notice, sign, etc.)
- はえfly (any insect of infraorder Muscomorpha)
- 翔るかけるto soar
- 飛球ひきゅうfly (ball)
- 翻るひるがえるto flutter (in the wind)
- フライfly (ball)
- ぶっ飛ぶぶっとぶto fly (with great force)
- 素っ飛ぶすっとぶto fly
- なびかせるto fly (a flag)
- 飛び翔るとびかけるto fly
- 社会の窓しゃかいのまどfly (on trousers)
- 毛鉤けばり(artificial) fly
- 翻すひるがえすto fly (a flag)
- 舞うまうto whirl (in the wind)
- 吹き流すふきながすto make flutter (in the wind)
- 揚げるあげるto launch (fireworks, etc.)
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
