How to say "urge" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 促すうながすgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb for urging or prompting someone to act — a push or nudge toward doing something. Use it when you press a person to take a step or reach a decision.
- 衝動しょうどうnounA noun for the urge as something felt inside — an impulse or drive to do something that rises in oneself, not an act of urging another person.
- 口説くくどくgodan verb, transitive verbIts core sense is persuading or coaxing someone, often persistently, to win them over; as 'urge' it is marginal — use it only for that earnest, sustained coaxing, not for a simple prompt.
- 勧めるすすめるichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb for urging in the sense of recommending or advising — you encourage someone to do something you think good or suitable for them.
- 督促とくそくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA noun for urging that amounts to pressing or demanding: urging someone to do what they are supposed to do, with an insistence close to importunity.
Use 「促す」 for prompting someone into action, 「勧める」 for recommending or advising, 衝動 for an inner urge, 「口説く」 for coaxing someone to agree, and 督促 for pressing or demanding action owed.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 促すうながすto urge
- 衝動しょうどうimpulse
- 口説くくどくto persuade
- 勧めるすすめるto recommend (someone to do)
- 督促とくそくurge
- 意欲いよくwill
- 欲求よっきゅうdesire
- 訴えかけるうったえかけるto make an appeal
- アージurge
- 急がすいそがすto hurry (someone to do)
- 欲動よくどうdrive
- かき口説くかきくどくto plead
- 急がせるいそがせるto hurry (someone to do)
- 迫るせまるto press (someone for something)
- 責めるせめるto urge
- 呼びかけるよびかけるto appeal (e.g. to the public)
- 駆り立てるかりたてるto drive (to do)
- 説くとくto persuade
- 責め立てるせめたてるto urge
- 督するとくするto press
- 揉み立てるもみたてるto press
See also
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