Translation and Meaning of: 動かす - ugokasu

If you have ever tried to learn Japanese, you know that some verbs seem to have a life of their own. One of them is 動かす (うごかす), which goes far beyond the simple "to move." In this article, we will explore its etymology, everyday usage, and even how the kanji 動 reveals its deeper meaning. Here at Suki Nihongo, the largest online Japanese dictionary, you can also find the correct writing, practical examples, and ready-made sentences to include in Anki — perfect for those who want to master the verb naturally.

Why is this verb so special? It appears in contexts that range from moving physical objects to influencing people, and even to denying something in formal situations. If you have ever wondered how the Japanese use 動かす in their daily lives or what the relationship is between its pictogram and its meaning, you are in the right place. Let's uncover everything, including memorization tips that even natives find useful.

The Kanji 動 and the Origin of 動かす

The heart of 動かす is in the kanji 動, composed of two elements: 力 (power) and 重 (heavy). Together, they suggest the idea of "making something heavy move with force." It's no wonder that the verb carries nuances of intense action, such as mobilizing troops or operating heavy machinery. Interestingly, the transitive form 動かす (to make something move) contrasts with 動く (to move on its own), a detail that many students take time to notice.

In the Heian era, the verb already appeared in texts to describe both physical and emotional movement — as in "動かす心" (moved heart). This duality remains to this day. A professor from Kyoto told me that artisans use 動かす to talk about adjusting pieces of pottery on the wheel, while young people prefer the slang term "SNSで話題を動かす" (to viralize a topic on social media).

Practical Uses That Go Beyond the Obvious

In Japanese daily life, 動かす is a wildcard. In an office, you'll hear "このデータを動かせますか？" (Can you move/transfer this data?). In a dojo, the sensei might shout "腰を動かせ！" (Move your hips!) during practice. But the verb also has surprising uses: in courts, "証拠を動かす" means to invalidate evidence, while in business, "人脈を動かす" refers to activating influential contacts.

A valuable tip: pay attention to the particles. Saying "車を動かす" (move the car) implies direct action, while "車が動かす" (the car moves [something]) completely changes the meaning. A common mistake among foreigners is confusing it with 移す (move to another place), but 動かす always involves continuous action — like the difference between pushing a piano and relocating it to another room.

Memorization and Cultural Curiosities

To memorize 動かす, imagine the kanji 動 as a man (力) carrying a heavy suitcase (重). A technique that worked for me was to associate it with extreme situations: think of "地震が建物を動かした" (The earthquake moved the building) — the image of the tremor making structures shake sticks in your memory. Another trick is to remember that it often appears in manuals ("レバーを動かす" = operate the lever) and in mecha animes ("ロボットを動かせ!" = Control the robot!).

In pop culture, 動かす has its moment of glory. In the movie "Howl's Moving Castle," the phrase "心を動かす力" (the power to move hearts) is repeated as a leitmotiv. Similarly, in "Attack on Titan," when Eren shouts "動かせよ、この体を！" (Move this body!), the verb takes on an intense dramatic weight. These references show how Japanese intertwines physical and emotional movement into a single word — and why it is worth mastering.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 動かす

• 動かす - basic form
• 動かします - polite form
• 動かした - passive form
• 動かさない - negative form
• 動かして - Mold you/me

Synonyms and similar words

• 動く (Umu) - Move, to move
• 移動する (Idou suru) - Move, shift
• 運ぶ (Hakobu) - Transport, load something
• 操作する (Sousa suru) - Operate, manipulate
• 操る (Ayatsuru) - Control, manipulate (usually objects or people)
• 操縦する (Soujyu suru) - To pilot, to control (usually vehicles or machines)
• 起動する (Kidou suru) - Start, turn on (a device)
• 駆動する (Kudou suru) - Make it work, trigger (mechanisms)
• 作動する (Sakudou suru) - Enter into operation, function
• 促す (Unagasu) - Encourage, incite
• 仕向ける (Shimukeru) - Guide, lead to action
• 引き起こす (Hikiokosu) - Cause, provoke (an event or situation)
• 振る (Furu) - Shake, sway
• 揺らす (Yurasu) - Move, shake
• 振動させる (Shindou saseru) - Cause vibration
• 活発化する (Kappatsuka suru) - Activate, make active
• 活性化する (Kasseika suru) - Activate, accelerate (especially reactions or processes)
• 活発にする (Kappatsu ni suru) - Make it more active
• 活性にする (Kassei ni suru) - Activate (usually used in biological contexts)
• 活気づける (Kakki zukeru) - Enliven, give vitality

動かす

Romaji: ugokasu
Kana: うごかす
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: to move; move; put in motion; operate; to inspire; awakening; to influence; mobilize; to deny; to change

Meaning in English: to move;to shift;to set in motion;to operate;to inspire;to rouse;to influence;to mobilize;to deny;to change

Definition: move things. Allow it to move.

Example Sentences - (動かす) ugokasu

See below some example sentences:

標語は人々の心を動かす力を持つ。

Hyōgo wa hitobito no kokoro o ugokasu chikara o motsu

Slogans have the power to move people's hearts.

The slogan has the power to move people's hearts.

• 標語 - means "slogan" in Japanese.
• は - a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, can be translated as "is".
• 人々 - means "people" in Japanese.
• の - a particle that indicates possession, can be translated as "of".
• 心 - means "heart" in Japanese.
• を - the particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, can be translated as "that".
• 動かす - means "to move" in Japanese.
• 力 - means "strength" in Japanese.
• を - the particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, can be translated as "that".
• 持つ - means "to have" in Japanese.
• . - period that indicates the end of the sentence.

私は車を動かすことができます。

Watashi wa kuruma o ugokasu koto ga dekimasu

I can move the car.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 車 (kuruma) - noun that means "car"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "car"
• 動かす (ugokasu) - verb that means "to move"
• こと (koto) - noun meaning "thing" or "action"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - Verb that means "to be able to"
• . (ponto) - punctuation mark indicating the end of the sentence