How to say "wink" in Japanese

• ウインクCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the deliberate wink: briefly closing one eye as a signal, a joke, or a flirtatious gesture. This is the word you want for the social gesture that English 'wink' most often means.
  ウインクが彼かれのたった一ひとつの返事へんじだった。↗

  A wink was his only answer.
• 瞬くまたたくCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbChiefly means to blink—the eyes' rapid opening and closing—and can also describe batting the eyes; its 'wink' sense is secondary, so for the deliberate one-eyed gesture ウインク is the natural choice.

For the deliberate one-eyed wink—a signal or flirtatious gesture—use 「ウインク」; 「瞬く」 is chiefly the verb for blinking and only secondarily means to wink.

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

• ウインクwink
• 瞬きまばたきblink (of eyes)
• 瞬ぐまじろぐto wink
• 秋波しゅうはamorous glance
• 瞬くまたたくto blink (one's eyes)