How to say "swing" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- noun, counterCovers the act of swinging, shaking, waving, or sweeping something. As a noun it names the motion itself, so it fits contexts describing the swing of an arm or a tool rather than an object or a sport.
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe loanword for the swing of a golf club or tennis racket. If you are talking about sports technique, this is the word you want; it is not used for playground swings or general waving.
- 振るふるgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb meaning to wave, shake, or swing something, such as swinging an arm. When you want to say 'swing' as an action rather than name an object, this is the natural choice.
- 振動しんどうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbRefers to oscillation or vibration, including the swing of a pendulum. Use it for regular back-and-forth movement in physical or scientific contexts; it is not the everyday word for swinging something by hand.
- nounThe noun for a swing as a piece of playground equipment, and also a trapeze. When English 'swing' means the thing children play on, this is the word you want; it is usually written in kana alone.
Use 「ぶらんこ」 for a playground swing, 「スイング」 for a golf or tennis swing, 「振る」 as the verb 'to swing/wave', 「ふり」 for the act of swinging or waving, and 振動 for pendulum-like swinging or vibration.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- ふりswing
- スイングswing (of a golf club, tennis racket, etc.)
- 振るふるto wave
- 振動しんどうoscillation
- ぶらんこswing
- 揺らぐゆらぐto swing
- 揺らすゆらすto rock
- ぶら下がるぶらさがるto hang down (from)
- 動くうごくto move
- 揺るがすゆるがすto shake
- 揺れるゆれるto shake
- 振り回すふりまわすto wield
- ぶら下げるぶらさげるto hang
- 揺さぶるゆさぶるto shake
- ゆするto shake
- 揺るゆるto shake
- 振るうふるうto swing
- 振れるふれるto swing
- 打法だほうbatting style
- 揺り動かすゆりうごかすto shake
- 振り動かすふりうごかすto shake
- 揺り動くゆりうごくto quake
- 揺すぶるゆすぶるto shake
- 打ち振るうちふるto brandish
- こぐto swing (on a swing)
- 振幅しんぷく(degree of) instability
- ぶらつくto dangle
- 振れ幅ふれはば(degree of) instability
See also
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