noun
maneuver; military movement
Mainly a military or tactical noun referring to the movement or maneuvering of forces in response to a situation.
司令官は敵の機動を読んで部隊を配置した。
The commander anticipated the enemy's maneuvers and positioned the troops.
Used before another noun in compounds such as 機動隊 and 機動部隊, implying mobility, flexibility, or rapid response. For a full adjective meaning 'flexible/quick-acting,' 機動的 is often used.
See also: 機動隊
機動部隊が現場に急行した。
A mobile unit rushed to the scene.
警察は駅前に機動隊を配置した。
The police deployed mobile police units in front of the station.
A much broader word for movement, exercise, or a campaign; it does not specifically imply tactical mobility or rapid response.
A Sino-Japanese compound written with 機, associated here with opportunity, mechanism, or tactical occasion, and 動, 'movement.' The spelling conventionally matches the idea of responsive or tactical movement.