How to say "migration" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

移動いどうJLPT N3approx.Common
noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers migration in the sense of simple movement from place to place: animals travelling seasonally, or people and things being moved or transferred. It does not by itself suggest settling in a new home.
平和へいわな丘おかや田園でんえん地帯ちたいから、通とおりがあり群衆ぐんしゅうがいる忙いそがしい世界せかいへと移動いどうするのである。↗
They are moving from the peaceful hills and the countryside to the busy world of streets and crowds.
移住いじゅうJLPT N1approx.Common
noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers migration as people relocating their home, especially moving to another country to live — the sense behind 'emigration' and 'immigration'. Use it for people settling somewhere new, not for movement in general.
一家いっかは１８３０年ねん頃ころ故国ここくのドイツからシカゴに移住いじゅうした。↗
The family moved from their native Germany to Chicago around the year 1830.

Use 移動 when migration means movement or transfer from place to place, as with animals or things; use 移住 when it means people relocating to live elsewhere, especially emigrating or immigrating to another country.

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

Japanese equivalents

移動いどうmovement
移住いじゅうmigration
泳動えいどうmigration
マイグレーションmigration
移動性いどうせいmobility
遊走ゆうそう(cell) migration
ムーブmovement (of data)
渡りわたりmigration

Say it right, write it right