How to say "sail" in Japanese

• 帆ほCommon
  nounThe noun sense: the canvas sail of a boat that catches the wind. Use it when talking about the sail itself — raising, lowering, or trimming it — not for the verb 'to sail'.
  向かい風むかいかぜが帆ほに吹ふきつけた。↗

  The headwind blew against the sail.
• 走るはしるJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbOnly the sense where a ship 'sails' by running through the water — the boat itself is what moves. Really the verb 'to run (of a vehicle)', not the word for going sailing.
  この車くるまは以前いぜんほど快調かいちょうに走はしらない。↗

  This car is running less smoothly than it used to.

Use 帆 for the noun — the canvas sail of a boat; 「走る」 is a verb that fits only when a ship itself is said to run through the water, not for sailing as an activity.

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

• 帆ほsail
• 航程こうていdistance covered (by a ship or aircraft)
• 走るはしるto run (of a vehicle)
• 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.)