How to say "stroke" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 画かくnoun, counterThe noun for a stroke of a kanji — one of the individual lines making up a written character, as when you count strokes to look up a kanji in a dictionary.
- godan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to rub, pat, stroke or massage, with the nuance of rubbing or massaging rather than caressing; usually written in kana. Think of rubbing a stiff shoulder.
- 撫でるなでるichidan verb, transitive verbA verb for stroking or caressing something gently and affectionately, as in stroking a child's head or petting a cat; the natural verb for gentle, affectionate stroking.
- nounA loanword for a stroke made with a racket or in swimming — the manner of the swing or swim; the word to use for racket sports and swimming strokes.
- 一打いちだnounA noun for a single blow or stroke — one strike or hit, such as a decisive hit in a game; it does not fit the kanji, petting or medical senses of 'stroke'.
画 counts the strokes of a kanji; 「さする」 and 「撫でる」 are verbs for stroking a body or pet — rubbing and massaging versus gentle caressing; 「ストローク」 is for racket and swimming strokes; 一打 is a single blow.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 画かくstroke (of a kanji)
- さするto rub
- 撫でるなでるto stroke
- ストロークstroke (of a racket, in swimming, etc.)
- 一打いちだstroke
- 脳卒中のうそっちゅうstroke
- 発作ほっさfit
- 打だhitting a ball (with a bat, golf club, etc.)
- 掻きかきstroke (swimming)
- 撫するぶするto stroke
- ふにふにstroke
- モフるto stroke (something fluffy)
- しごくto draw through one's hand
- 撫で回すなでまわすto pat (e.g. a dog)
- 撫ぜるなぜるto brush gently
- かき撫でるかきなでるto smooth with the hand
- なでさするto caress
- 脳梗塞のうこうそくcerebral infarction
- 一撫でひとなで(one) stroke
- 行程こうていstroke (of a piston)
- もふもふto stroke (something fluffy)
- 整調せいちょうstroke oar
- 案じるあんじるto stroke
- 案ずるあんずるto stroke
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
