Translation guide
The English phrase "move back" can refer to physical movement away from a point, returning to a previous location, or rescheduling something to a later time. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To move one's body or an object away from the current position, often a short distance.
Intransitive verb meaning to step back, fall back, or move backward. Commonly used for people or things moving back.
もう少し下がってください。
Please move back a little more.
車が下がってきた。
The car moved back (toward me).
Transitive verb meaning to move something back or lower something. Use when you are moving an object back.
椅子を下げてください。
Please move the chair back.
More formal or technical term for moving backward, retreating, or reversing. Often used for vehicles or military contexts.
車が後退した。
The car moved back/reversed.
Literally 'move back to the rear'. Emphasizes direction.
危ないから後ろに下がって。
It's dangerous, so move back.
To go back to a place where one was before, such as home, a seat, or a country.
Intransitive verb meaning to return, go back, or be restored. Very common for returning to a place or state.
席に戻ってください。
Please move back to your seat.
来月国に戻ります。
I'll move back to my country next month.
Transitive verb meaning to put something back, return something to its original place.
Specifically means to go back home or to one's base. Use when 'move back' implies returning to live somewhere.
To postpone an event or appointment to a later date or time.
To postpone, put off. Standard term for rescheduling events.
会議を来週に延期しましょう。
Let's move the meeting back to next week.
Literally 'shift the schedule backward'. Casual way to say push back a date.
打ち合わせの日程を後ろにずらしてもいい？
Can we move back the meeting date?
To delay something. Can be used for moving back a deadline or schedule.
To withdraw or retreat from a situation, opinion, or promise.
To pull back, withdraw. Can be used for stepping back from a statement or physically pulling back.
彼は前言を引いた。
He moved back from his previous statement.
To step down, withdraw from a position or relationship. Literally 'pull one's body'.
To retreat, step aside. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
戻る (modoru) means to return to a previous location or state, while 帰る (kaeru) specifically means to go back home or to one's base. Use 帰る when 'move back' implies returning to live somewhere.
Avoid directly translating 'move back' as 動かす (ugokasu) + 後ろ (ushiro). This sounds unnatural. Use the appropriate verb based on context: 下がる for stepping back, 戻る for returning, 延期する for postponing.
Please move the book back to the shelf.
I decided to move back to my parents' house.
Please move the deadline back by one week.
She moved back from the project.
彼は一歩退いた。
He moved back a step.