What does 動く mean?
動く is a Japanese verb meaning “to move” in English. It can also be translated as “to work (of a machine)” depending on context. It is written as 動く in kanji, うごく in hiragana, and ugoku in romaji. This word is part of JLPT N4 vocabulary.
Example sentences
写真を撮るから、動かないでください。
I'm taking a photo, so please don't move.
このパソコンは古いけど、まだ動きます。
This computer is old, but it still works.
Conjugation of 動く
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 動くうごく | 動かないうごかない |
| Plain past | 動いたうごいた | 動かなかったうごかなかった |
| Polite | 動きますうごきます | 動きませんうごきません |
| Polite past | 動きましたうごきました | 動きませんでしたうごきませんでした |
Other forms
Te-form動いてうごいて
Potential動けるうごける
Passive動かれるうごかれる
Volitional動こううごこう
Causative動かせるうごかせる
Conditional動けばうごけば
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Transitive partner
動く (it happens by itself)·動かす (someone does it)
動く describes something happening by itself. 動かす describes someone doing it to something. Japanese keeps these apart where English often uses one verb for both.