Translation guide
How to express the idea of encouraging, urging, or driving someone to action in Japanese.
To motivate or cheer someone on to do something, often in a supportive way.
Literally 'push someone's back', this is a very common and natural way to say you are giving someone a gentle push or encouragement to take a step forward.
友達の背中を押して、留学を勧めた。
I gave my friend a push and encouraged them to study abroad.
To prod someone into moving faster or taking immediate action, sometimes with a sense of impatience.
To spur someone on in a way that might be aggressive, manipulative, or inciting, sometimes leading to conflict.
Both mean to support or encourage, but 背中を押す is more personal and emotional, like giving a friend a push. 後押しする is often used for institutional or financial backing.
親が背中を押してくれた。
My parents gave me a push (emotionally).
銀行が融資で後押しした。
The bank backed them with a loan.
Avoid directly translating 'spurring on' as 拍車をかける (to spur a horse) unless you mean to accelerate a process or trend. For encouraging a person, use the options above.
A general verb meaning to encourage, cheer up, or inspire someone. Suitable for both emotional support and motivating action.
落ち込んでいる彼を励ました。
I encouraged him when he was feeling down.
Means to support or back someone up, often from behind the scenes. Slightly more formal than 背中を押す.
政府が新しい事業を後押ししている。
The government is backing new businesses.
A formal, somewhat literary word meaning to inspire or rouse someone's spirits. Often used in speeches or writing.
彼の演説は聴衆を鼓舞した。
His speech inspired the audience.
To rush or hurry someone, often verbally. Can be used in daily situations like telling someone to hurry up.
子供を急かして学校に行かせた。
I hurried the child off to school.
To urge or prompt someone to do something, often politely or indirectly. Common in business or formal contexts.
上司に決断を促した。
I urged my boss to make a decision.
Literally 'slap someone's bottom', this is a colloquial and slightly rough way to say you are pushing someone to work harder or get moving.
彼は怠けているから、尻を叩かないと。
He's slacking off, so I need to light a fire under him.
To drive or impel someone strongly, often by an inner force or external pressure. Can be used for ambition, curiosity, or negative urges.
好奇心に駆り立てられて、彼は洞窟に入った。
Driven by curiosity, he entered the cave.
To incite, stir up, or agitate someone. Often used for provoking emotions or actions, sometimes with a negative connotation.
彼は観客を煽って、騒ぎを大きくした。
He stirred up the crowd and made the disturbance worse.
To tempt or entice someone into doing something bad or unwise. Implies manipulation.
友達に唆されて、万引きをしてしまった。
I was egged on by a friend and ended up shoplifting.