Translation guide
To encourage or motivate someone to take action, often with a sense of urgency or pressure. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for urging, pushing, or driving someone forward.
The speaker wants to motivate someone to do something, often with enthusiasm or gentle pressure.
Literally 'push someone's back', this is a common, natural metaphor for giving someone a gentle push to take action or make a decision.
友達の言葉が背中を押してくれた。
My friend's words spurred me on.
A slightly formal verb meaning to urge or prompt someone to do something. Often used in written or business contexts.
上司が彼に決断を促した。
The boss spurred him on to make a decision.
Means to encourage or cheer someone up, often emotionally. It can be used when spurring someone on through supportive words.
コーチが選手たちを励ました。
The coach spurred on the players.
Literally 'push from behind', similar to 背中を押す but often used for providing support or backing, like financial or institutional support.
政府の補助金が新事業を後押しした。
The government subsidy spurred on the new business.
The speaker wants to express making someone exert more effort, sometimes with a sense of pressure or demand.
Means to drive or spur someone on, often with a strong internal or external force. It implies a compelling urge.
好奇心が彼を冒険に駆り立てた。
Curiosity spurred him on to adventure.
To hurry or rush someone, spurring them on by creating a sense of urgency. Often used when someone is being pushed to act faster.
Literally 'slap someone's buttocks', a colloquial and somewhat rough way to say spurring someone on, often used jokingly or in casual contexts.
先輩が後輩の尻を叩いて練習させた。
The senior spurred on the junior to practice.
The speaker wants to express that something acts as a catalyst, spurring a reaction or development.
To stimulate or provoke. It can be used when something spurs on a person's mind, creativity, or economic activity.
その映画が彼の想像力を刺激した。
The movie spurred on his imagination.
Literally 'to spur a horse', this idiom means to accelerate or give impetus to something, often used for trends or developments.
SNSの普及が情報拡散に拍車をかけた。
The spread of social media spurred on the dissemination of information.
Both mean 'push from behind', but 背中を押す is more personal and emotional, while 後押しする is often used for institutional or financial support.
親が背中を押して留学を決めた。
My parents spurred me on to study abroad.
銀行の融資が事業拡大を後押しした。
The bank loan spurred on the business expansion.
Directly translating 'spur on' as 拍車をかける is not always natural. 拍車をかける is idiomatic and often used for accelerating processes, not for personal encouragement. Use 背中を押す or 励ます for motivating people.
彼は部下を急き立てて仕事を終わらせた。
He spurred on his subordinates to finish the work.