How to say "run" in Japanese

• 走るはしるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb for running itself: a person or animal moving quickly on foot, and by extension a car or train speeding along. Choose this for the literal action of running.
  あの走はしってる少年しょうねんをごらんなさい。↗

  Look at that boy running.
• ランCommon
  nounA loanword noun rather than a verb, found mainly in sports contexts such as baseball; it is not how you say the action of running — for that you need 走る.
• 流れるながれるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'run' in the sense of a liquid flowing unrestrained — the way ink runs when paper gets wet. It describes the liquid itself, never a person running.
  セーヌ川かわはパリを流ながれている。↗

  The Seine flows through Paris.
• 流すながすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe transitive counterpart of 流れる: 'run' as in running water, letting it flow or draining it away. Think of running water from a tap, not of anyone running anywhere.
  あんな恐おそろしい男おとこのために流ながす涙なみだはない。↗

  I cannot shed a tear for that horrible man.
• 駆けるかけるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbRunning at speed: to dash or race rather than simply run. Choose it when the running is swift and energetic, as when someone dashes across a field.
  ぱたぱたと足跡あしあとを立たてて、エントランスへと駆かけてゆく。↗

  With a pitter-patter of footsteps she runs off to the entrance.

Use 「走る」 for running on foot, 「駆ける」 for fast, dashing running, 「流れる」 for ink or liquid running, 「流す」 for running water, and 「ラン」 only as the borrowed noun, never for the action.

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

• 走るはしるto run
• ランrun
• 流れるながれるto stream
• 流すながすto drain
• 駆けるかけるto run
• にじむto run (of liquid)
• 営むいとなむto run (a business)
• 競走きょうそうrace
• 取り仕切るとりしきるto manage (all by oneself)
• 構えるかまえるto set up (a house, store, etc.)
• ぶつけるto hit (e.g. one's head)
• 航路こうろ(air or sea) route
• 走そうrun
• 馳せるはせるto run
• 駆け登るかけのぼるto run (up hill, stairs, etc.)
• 伝線でんせんrun (in a stocking)
• 取り付け騒ぎとりつけさわぎrun (on a bank)
• 切り回すきりまわすto manage
• 航程こうていdistance covered (by a ship or aircraft)
• ぶっつけるto hit (e.g. one's head)
• 一走りひとはしり(short) run
• ひとっ走りひとっぱしり(short) run
• 動くうごくto operate
• 通るとおるto run (between; of a rail service, bus route, etc.)
• 引っ張るひっぱるto string (lines)
• 実行じっこうexecution (of a program)
• 翔るかけるto run
• 仕切るしきるto direct
• 点てんpoint (in a game)
• 続きつづきsuccession (of)
• 取り付けとりつけrun (on a bank)
• 走らすはしらすto move quickly (one's pen, eyes, etc.)
• 走らせるはしらせるto move quickly (one's pen, eyes, etc.)
• やるto run (a business)
• 出るでるto flow (e.g. tears)
• 立つたつto stand (for election)
• 乗せるのせるto publish (an article)
• 散るちるto spread