Translation guide
The act of moving one's hand or an object back and forth, often as a greeting, signal, or to attract attention. In Japanese, the expression depends on the context: casual hand-waving, beckoning, waving a flag, or swaying in the wind.
To move your hand side to side to say hello or goodbye.
The most common and neutral way to say 'wave one's hand'. Used for both greeting and farewell.
彼女は笑顔で手を振った。
She waved with a smile.
I waved to my friend at the station.
Literally 'greet by waving one's hand'. Emphasizes the greeting aspect.
彼は遠くから手を振って挨拶した。
He greeted me by waving from a distance.
In many situations where English speakers would wave, Japanese people bow (お辞儀). Waving is common among friends or in casual settings, but bowing is more formal and traditional.
日本人は手を振るよりお辞儀をすることが多い。
Japanese people often bow rather than wave.
To wave your hand towards yourself to signal someone to come closer.
Specifically means to beckon with a hand gesture. The palm faces down and fingers move towards the speaker, which is the opposite of the Western gesture.
The Japanese beckoning gesture is palm down, fingers waving towards yourself. The Western palm-up gesture may be misunderstood.
彼は私に手招きした。
He beckoned me over.
A casual, often childish way to say 'beckon', literally 'do come-come'. Used with children or pets.
子供においでおいでをした。
I beckoned the child over.
To move something back and forth in the air, like a flag or a fan.
General verb for 'wave' or 'swing'. Used for flags, hands, handkerchiefs, etc.
旗を振る
wave a flag
彼はハンカチを振って別れを告げた。
He waved a handkerchief in farewell.
To shake or sway something. Less common for deliberate waving, more for causing something to sway.
Something moving back and forth by itself, like a flag in the wind or hair blowing.
Intransitive verb for swaying, shaking, or fluttering. Used for objects moving on their own.
旗が風に揺れている。
The flag is waving in the wind.
彼女の髪が風に揺れた。
Her hair waved in the wind.
To flutter or stream in the wind. Often used for hair, flags, or clothes.
Hair having a slight curl or wave.
Loanword from English, commonly used for wavy hair.
彼女は髪にウェーブをかけている。
She has her hair waved.
Literally 'to undulate like waves'. Can describe wavy hair but is more poetic or descriptive.
手を振る is waving side-to-side for greeting or farewell. 手招きする is beckoning someone to come closer, with a different hand gesture (palm down, fingers moving towards yourself).
In Japan, the 'come here' gesture is done with the palm facing down and fingers waving towards the body. The Western palm-up gesture may be seen as rude or confusing.
The wind is waving the tree branches.
The flag is fluttering in the wind.
彼女の髪は波打っている。
Her hair is wavy.