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動く
ugoku
move
時計が動く。
The clock moves.
neutral
To change position or place; to shift from one location to another.
車が動く。
The car moves.
風で木の葉が動いた。
The leaves moved in the wind.
Often used for physical movement of objects, people, or animals.
neutral
To take action; to operate or function.
機械が動く。
The machine works/operates.
会社が動く。
The company takes action.
Common in business or technical contexts.
literary
To be emotionally or mentally affected; to be moved.
彼の話に心が動いた。
I was moved by his story.
Used for emotional responses, often in literature or personal contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Transitive vs. Intransitive
動く is intransitive (e.g., 'The car moves' = 車が動く). To say 'I move the car', use the transitive form 動かす (e.g., 車を動かす).
Gold Rule
Movement vs. Function
Use 動く for physical movement (e.g., 'The robot moves'). For machines or systems operating, it implies 'functioning' (e.g., 'The computer moves' → コンピュータが動く).
Word Origin
From Old Japanese verb 'utoku' (移る, 移く), meaning 'to shift' or 'to move'. Evolved into modern '動く' with the addition of the kanji '動' (to move). The verb form emphasizes active movement rather than passive change.
Usage Notes
動く is a general verb for movement and can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. It is intransitive (does not take a direct object) and often paired with particles like 'が' or 'は'. In technical contexts, it may imply 'functioning' rather than physical movement.
Word Breakdown
動
to move
rootく
verb ending (intransitive)
suffix和英辞典