飛ぶ・跳ぶ・翔ぶ|とぶtobu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
飛ぶ飛ぶ is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners; use it when you need to write this word.
跳ぶ跳ぶ is less common than 飛ぶ and is a variant spelling; beginners should normally choose 飛ぶ instead.
翔ぶ翔ぶ is less common than 飛ぶ and uses an outdated kanji; beginners should normally choose 飛ぶ instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto fly; to soaresp. 飛ぶ
- godan verb, intransitive verbto jump; to leap; to spring; to bound; to hopesp. 跳ぶ
- godan verb, intransitive verbto spatter; to scatter; to splash; to fly (e.g. of sparks)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto hurry; to rush
- godan verb, intransitive verbto flee; to run off; to escape
- godan verb, intransitive verbto disappear; to vanish; to fade; to thin out
- godan verb, intransitive verbto break off; to come off; to fall off; to blow (of a fuse)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be sent out (of an order); to fly (of false rumours, catcalls, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto come flying (of a punch, kick, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be missing (of a page, stitch, etc.); to skip; to jump (e.g. of a conversation)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 飛ぶ（とぶ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 飛びます（とびます） |
| Negative (nai) | 飛ばない（とばない） |
| polite (masen) | 飛びません（とびません） |
| classical zu / nu | 飛ばず・飛ばぬ（とばず・とばぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 飛んだ（とんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 飛びました（とびました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 飛ばなかった（とばなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 飛びませんでした（とびませんでした） |
| Te form | 飛んで（とんで） |
| Potential | 飛べる（とべる） |
| Passive | 飛ばれる（とばれる） |
| Causative | 飛ばせる（とばせる） |
| Causative passive | 飛ばせられる・飛ばされる（とばせられる・とばされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 飛べば（とべば） |
| tara | 飛んだら（とんだら） |
| Volitional | 飛ぼう（とぼう） |
| polite (mashou) | 飛びましょう（とびましょう） |
| Imperative | 飛べ（とべ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
鳥が飛ぶ
飛ぶ focuses on the event or resulting state, while 飛ばす foregrounds the agent acting on something; compare 鳥が飛ぶ and 鳥を飛ばす.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym翔るかけるWrittenWritten and literary: soaring high in the sky or dashing at speed, as in 「大空を翔る」.
- Synonym飛行ひこうNeutralA noun for the act of flying (planes, birds), also used as 「飛行する」, as in 「飛行時間」; 「飛ぶ」 is the everyday verb.
- Synonym跳躍ちょうやくWrittenA written noun for the act of jumping, mostly in sports, as in 「跳躍競技」.
- SynonymはねるNeutralSpringing or splashing up, as in 「水が跳ねる」, and also used of a show ending; about bouncing, not flying.
- Synonym飛び上がるとびあがるNeutralJumping up into the air or taking off; also leaping up from joy or surprise.
- Related飛行ひこうNeutralA noun for the act of flying (planes, birds), also used as 「飛行する」, as in 「飛行時間」; 「飛ぶ」 is the everyday verb.
- Related飛躍ひやくNeutralA noun for leaping, but more often figurative for dramatic progress, as in 「飛躍的な進歩」.
- Related躍るおどるNeutralJumping or bounding up and down, or (of a heart) pounding with excitement, as in 「胸が躍る」; stresses up-and-down movement.
- Related弾むはずむNeutralBouncing with springiness, or growing lively, as in 「会話が弾む」; stresses elasticity and liveliness rather than flight.
- Related跳ね上がるはねあがるNeutralJumping sharply upward, or (of prices) shooting up, as in 「物価が跳ね上がる」.
- Related飛び出すとびだすNeutralDashing or jumping out, or suddenly appearing, as in 「道に飛び出す」.
- Related飛び跳ねるとびはねるNeutralHopping up and down repeatedly, as in 「子どもが飛び跳ねる」; stresses continuous jumping.
- Antonym落ちるおちるNeutralThe antonym of 「飛ぶ」: falling or dropping down.
Use 「飛ぶ」 by default for flying through the air; jumping off the ground with the legs is usually written 「跳ぶ」. 「飛行」 names the act of flying, 「飛躍」 a leap in development, 「弾む」 and 「跳ねる」 bouncing, and 「飛び出す」 rushing out; the rest cover specific jumps or figurative uses.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
