How to say "stir" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 動くうごくgodan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'stir' only in the sense of something moving or shifting on its own, such as leaves stirring in the wind. It is intransitive and rarely the word you want for stirring food or drink.
- 動かすうごかすgodan verb, transitive verbThe transitive counterpart of 動く: to move, shift, or budge something. Use it when 'stir' means setting something in motion rather than mixing it, not for stirring ingredients in a bowl.
- 混ぜるまぜるichidan verb, transitive verbYour default for stirring in the kitchen sense of combining ingredients. It emphasizes mixing things together, as when stirring sugar into coffee or blending ingredients in a bowl.
- かき回すかきまわすgodan verb, transitive verbThe direct word for stirring something round and round with a spoon or stick. It also covers churning, poking a fire, or disturbing water, and suits continuous circular motion better than 混ぜる.
- 沸かすわかすgodan verb, transitive verbFor 'stir' only in the figurative sense of exciting or rousing people, as stirring up a crowd or emotions. It is not used for stirring food or liquid, so avoid it in cooking contexts.
For physical stirring of food or liquid use 「混ぜる」 or 「かき回す」; 「動く」 and 「動かす」 cover moving or shifting, and 「沸かす」 is for stirring up emotions or crowds, not cooking.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 動くうごくto move
- 動かすうごかすto move
- 混ぜるまぜるto mix
- 掻き回すかきまわすto stir
- どよめきcommotion
- かき混ぜるかきまぜるto mix
- ざわめきstir
- 身じろぐみじろぐto stir
- そよぐto rustle
- 奮激ふんげきrouse
- 扱き混ぜるこきまぜるto mix together (e.g. ingredients)
- 沸かすわかすto excite
- 溶くとくto scramble (eggs)
- 躍らすおどらすto stir (one's feelings)
- 躍らせるおどらせるto stir (one's feelings)
- 掻き立てるかきたてるto arouse (interest, feelings, etc.)
- 目覚ますめざますto rouse (emotions, instincts, etc.)
See also
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