Translation guide
The English word "movements" can refer to physical motions, organized social or political campaigns, changes in position or location, and more. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Describing the act of moving one's body or parts of it, or the way someone moves.
General term for movement, motion, or activity. Can refer to physical movements, changes, or trends.
彼の動きはとても素早い。
His movements are very quick.
ダンサーの動きが美しい。
The dancer's movements are beautiful.
Refers to physical actions or motions, often used in technical or formal contexts like sports, robotics, or user interfaces.
ロボットの動作をプログラムする。
Program the robot's movements.
Specifically gestures or body language, often used with 手振り (てぶり) as 身振り手振り.
彼は身振り手振りで説明した。
He explained with gestures.
Referring to groups of people working together to achieve a social or political goal.
The standard term for a movement (social, political, environmental, etc.). Also means physical exercise.
環境保護運動に参加する。
Participate in the environmental movement.
公民権運動は歴史を変えた。
The civil rights movement changed history.
Activities or activism; often used for grassroots or volunteer movements.
Describing the act of moving from one place to another, or the process of being moved.
Movement from one place to another; transfer, migration, travel.
人口の移動が都市部に集中している。
Population movements are concentrated in urban areas.
軍隊の移動が確認された。
Troop movements were confirmed.
Can also be used for changes in position, especially in more abstract or figurative senses.
Referring to the excretion of feces, often in medical or polite contexts.
Medical/formal term for bowel movement or defecation.
排便の回数を記録してください。
Please record the frequency of your bowel movements.
Polite, everyday term for bowel movement, often used in conversation.
Medical term for bowel habits or movements.
Referring to a self-contained part of a musical composition.
A movement in a symphony, sonata, etc.
この交響曲は4つの楽章からなる。
This symphony consists of four movements.
While 動き (ugoki) can mean movement in a physical sense, it is not used for organized social or political movements. Use 運動 (undō) instead.
環境運動
environmental movement
運動 (undō) implies a more organized, often larger-scale movement with a specific goal. 活動 (katsudō) refers to activities or activism and can be used for smaller, less formal groups or individual efforts.
学生たちの平和活動が広がっている。
The students' peace movement is spreading.
株価の動きに注目している。
I'm watching the movements of stock prices.
I haven't had a bowel movement recently.
便通が不規則です。
My bowel movements are irregular.