How to say "move" in Japanese

• 動くうごくJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive verb: something moves, stirs, or shifts on its own, as when a machine or object starts to move. Use it when the subject moves by itself, not when someone moves something else.
  私は家いえの中なかで何なんかが動うごくのを感かんじた。↗

  I felt something move in the house.
• いくJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb (irregular), intransitive verbThis is really the word for 'go'; it matches 'move' only in the sense of moving towards or heading somewhere. For most senses of 'move' it is not the word you want.
  お母かあさん、泳およぎに行いってもいい？↗

  Can I go swimming, Mother?
• 動きうごきJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe noun: movement, motion, or a move, corresponding to the verb 動く. Use it when English 'move' is a noun rather than a verb.
  愛あいの動うごきは不可解ふかかい。↗

  Love moves in mysterious ways.
• 動かすうごかすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe transitive counterpart of 動く: to move, shift, or budge something, as when you move a piece of furniture or cannot budge it. Choose this when someone or something moves an object.
  ここからあそこへこの石いしを動うごかして下ください。↗

  Please move this stone from here to there.
• うつるJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbFor 'move' in the sense of moving to another place or state: relocating, changing affiliation or condition, or being transferred. Not the word for ordinary physical movement of an object.
  ハイジャック犯はん達たちは飛行機ひこうきの後部こうぶに移うつった。↗

  The hijackers moved to the rear of the plane.

Use 「動く」 for something moving by itself, 「動かす」 for moving something, 「動き」 for the noun 'movement' or 'move', 「うつる」 for moving to another place or state, and 「いく」 only where 'move' just means to go somewhere.

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

• 動くうごくto move
• いくto go
• 動きうごきmovement
• 動かすうごかすto move
• うつるto move (to another place or state)
• 運ぶはこぶto carry
• うつすto transfer (to a different place, group, etc.)
• シフトshift
• ずらすto shift
• 引っ越すひっこすto move (house)
• 移住いじゅうmigration
• どくto step aside
• 指し手さしてmove
• 出方でかたattitude
• 出処進退しゅっしょしんたいstaying in one's position or resigning
• 技わざtechnique
• ムーブmove
• 移り住むうつりすむto move (to another area, country, etc.)
• 片すかたすto move
• 歩み方あゆみかたmove
• 出様でようattitude
• 身じろぐみじろぐto stir
• 挙きょaction
• やるto put
• 回すまわすto move (someone or something to where its needed)
• 捉えるとらえるto captivate
• 圧倒あっとうto overwhelm (someone with emotion)
• 入れ替えるいれかえるto move (something)
• 走るはしるto run (of a vehicle)
• 刺さるささるto resonate emotionally
• 置き直すおきなおすto reposition
• 打つうつto move
• スライドto shift (e.g. a group of items in a schedule)
• 手てmeans
• 指すさすto play (a game of shogi)